M4.8 Earthquake 124 km E of Miyako, Japan — July 31, 2023
2023-07-31 21:12:47 UTC (2023-07-31) · approx. 7:12 AM UTC+10 local
On July 31, 2023 at 21:12 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 124 km E of Miyako, Japan, at a depth of 17.3 km and coordinates 39.6413°, 143.3894°. This earthquake was detected by 122 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
143.3894°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Miyako, Japan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 124 km E of Miyako, Japan on July 31, 2023 at 21:12 UTC had a depth of 17.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.6413°, 143.3894°, which is 124 km E of Miyako, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kwxg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 31, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake 124 km E of Miyako, Japan — July 31, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kwxg/