M5.0 Earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan region — April 4, 2023
2023-04-04 07:07:23 UTC (2023-04-04) · approx. 4:07 PM UTC+9 local
On April 4, 2023 at 07:07 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Bonin Islands, Japan region, at a depth of 54.5 km and coordinates 27.0045°, 141.4555°. This earthquake was detected by 83 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
141.4555°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan region?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck in the Bonin Islands, Japan region on April 4, 2023 at 07:07 UTC had a depth of 54.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 27.0045°, 141.4555°, which is in the Bonin Islands, Japan region. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000k1vu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, April 4, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan region — April 4, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000k1vu/