M5.3 Earthquake in the Volcano Islands, Japan region — January 7, 2025
2025-01-07 17:23:48 UTC (2025-01-07) · approx. 2:23 AM UTC+9 local
On January 7, 2025 at 17:23 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Volcano Islands, Japan region, at a depth of 534.5 km and coordinates 24.2827°, 142.0996°. This earthquake was detected by 164 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
142.0996°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake in the Volcano Islands, Japan region?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck in the Volcano Islands, Japan region on January 7, 2025 at 17:23 UTC had a depth of 534.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 24.2827°, 142.0996°, which is in the Volcano Islands, Japan region. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pife). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, January 7, 2025). M5.3 Earthquake in the Volcano Islands, Japan region — January 7, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pife/