M4.4 Earthquake 29 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan — April 26, 2024
2024-04-26 21:36:16 UTC (2024-04-26) · approx. 6:36 AM UTC+9 local
On April 26, 2024 at 21:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 29 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan, at a depth of 66.7 km and coordinates 40.5970°, 141.8258°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.9 mainshock that occurred 28 days ago 33 km ENE of Noda, Japan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 10 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
141.8258°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Hachinohe, Japan?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 29 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan on April 26, 2024 at 21:36 UTC had a depth of 66.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.9 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.9 mainshock that occurred earlier 33 km ENE of Noda, Japan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mw2m). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 26, 2024). M4.4 Earthquake 29 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan — April 26, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mw2m/