M4.2 Earthquake 30 km E of Nichinan, Japan — December 13, 2024
2024-12-13 18:58:20 UTC (2024-12-13) · approx. 3:58 AM UTC+9 local
On December 13, 2024 at 18:58 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 30 km E of Nichinan, Japan, at a depth of 47.8 km and coordinates 31.5756°, 131.6877°.
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.
Earthquake Details
131.6877°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Nichinan, Japan?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 30 km E of Nichinan, Japan on December 13, 2024 at 18:58 UTC had a depth of 47.8 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ph5y). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 13, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 30 km E of Nichinan, Japan — December 13, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ph5y/