M4.6 Earthquake 27 km SW of Yawatahama, Japan — May 18, 2023
2023-05-18 21:56:27 UTC (2023-05-18) · approx. 6:56 AM UTC+9 local
On May 18, 2023 at 21:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 27 km SW of Yawatahama, Japan, at a depth of 62.3 km and coordinates 33.2888°, 132.2106°. This earthquake was detected by 84 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
132.2106°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Yawatahama, Japan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 27 km SW of Yawatahama, Japan on May 18, 2023 at 21:56 UTC had a depth of 62.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 33.2888°, 132.2106°, which is 27 km SW of Yawatahama, 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: us6000kcyy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 18, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 27 km SW of Yawatahama, Japan — May 18, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kcyy/