4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 34 km SE of Hitachi, Japan — December 6, 2022

2022-12-06 20:39:55 UTC (2022-12-06) · approx. 5:39 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time20:39 UTC≈ 5:39 AM UTC+9
Depth54.7 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates36.422°, 140.966°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 6, 2022 at 20:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 34 km SE of Hitachi, Japan, at a depth of 54.7 km and coordinates 36.4215°, 140.9664°. This earthquake was detected by 111 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 36.42°, 140.97°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
54.7 km
shallow crustal
Location
36.4215°N
140.9664°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000j7fk
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
111
Azimuthal Gap
89.0°
Min Station Distance
2.225°
RMS Residual
0.69 sec
Last Updated
2023-02-11 23:03:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Hitachi, Japan?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 34 km SE of Hitachi, Japan on December 6, 2022 at 20:39 UTC had a depth of 54.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.4215°, 140.9664°, which is 34 km SE of Hitachi, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Actions

View on USGSDid You Feel It?

Location

Japan
View all Japan earthquakes

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000j7fk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 6, 2022). M4.5 Earthquake 34 km SE of Hitachi, Japan — December 6, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000j7fk/