M4.7 Earthquake 42 km SSW of Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan — December 26, 2023
2023-12-26 22:53:57 UTC (2023-12-26) · approx. 7:53 AM UTC+9 local
On December 26, 2023 at 22:53 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 42 km SSW of Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan, at a depth of 63.0 km and coordinates 41.9589°, 142.2525°. This earthquake was detected by 178 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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
142.2525°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 42 km SSW of Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan on December 26, 2023 at 22:53 UTC had a depth of 63.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 41.9589°, 142.2525°, which is 42 km SSW of Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lzxt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 26, 2023). M4.7 Earthquake 42 km SSW of Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan — December 26, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lzxt/