4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 39 km ENE of Onagawa Chō, JapanOctober 6, 2024

2024-10-06 17:20:02 UTC (2024-10-06) · approx. 2:20 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mwr)
Time17:20 UTC2:20 AM UTC+9
Depth49.7 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates38.608°, 141.846°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 6, 2024 at 17:20 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 39 km ENE of Onagawa Chō, Japan, at a depth of 49.7 km and coordinates 38.6082°, 141.8464°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 38.61°, 141.85°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mwr
Depth
49.7 km
shallow crustal
Location
38.6082°N
141.8464°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000nwx8
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
36
Azimuthal Gap
142.0°
Min Station Distance
2.260°
RMS Residual
0.35 sec
Last Updated
2024-12-14 14:50:43 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Onagawa Chō, Japan?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 39 km ENE of Onagawa Chō, Japan on October 6, 2024 at 17:20 UTC had a depth of 49.7 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000nwx8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 6, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 39 km ENE of Onagawa Chō, JapanOctober 6, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000nwx8/