M4.9 Earthquake 126 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan — October 24, 2022
2022-10-24 07:43:50 UTC (2022-10-24) · approx. 5:43 PM UTC+10 local
On October 24, 2022 at 07:43 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 126 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 41.9217°, 144.9656°. This earthquake was detected by 87 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Japan, a region characterized by the intersection of four tectonic plates — Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American — creating multiple subduction zones. The nearest mapped fault system is the Japan Trench. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
144.9656°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kushiro, Japan?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 126 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan on October 24, 2022 at 07:43 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 41.9217°, 144.9656°, which is 126 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Japan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Japan was the M9.1 Tohoku earthquake of March 11, 2011. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000iw1c). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 24, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 126 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan — October 24, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000iw1c/