M4.9 Earthquake 53 km ESE of Koshima, Japan — October 14, 2024
2024-10-14 11:52:53 UTC (2024-10-14) · approx. 8:52 PM UTC+9 local
On October 14, 2024 at 11:52 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 53 km ESE of Koshima, Japan, at a depth of 41.5 km and coordinates 30.0511°, 131.0517°. This earthquake was detected by 47 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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
131.0517°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Koshima, Japan?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 53 km ESE of Koshima, Japan on October 14, 2024 at 11:52 UTC had a depth of 41.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 30.0511°, 131.0517°, which is 53 km ESE of Koshima, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000nyk6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 14, 2024). M4.9 Earthquake 53 km ESE of Koshima, Japan — October 14, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000nyk6/