M4.6 Earthquake 158 km S of Shimoda, Japan — May 15, 2023
2023-05-15 09:44:31 UTC (2023-05-15) · approx. 6:44 PM UTC+9 local
On May 15, 2023 at 09:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 158 km S of Shimoda, Japan, at a depth of 16.6 km and coordinates 33.2725°, 139.2745°. This earthquake was detected by 53 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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
Earthquake Details
139.2745°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Shimoda, Japan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 158 km S of Shimoda, Japan on May 15, 2023 at 09:44 UTC had a depth of 16.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 33.2725°, 139.2745°, which is 158 km S of Shimoda, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kc08). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 15, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 158 km S of Shimoda, Japan — May 15, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kc08/