M4.5 Earthquake 74 km SSE of China, Japan — January 17, 2025
2025-01-17 19:57:52 UTC (2025-01-17) · approx. 4:57 AM UTC+9 local
On January 17, 2025 at 19:57 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 74 km SSE of China, Japan, at a depth of 24.0 km and coordinates 26.7534°, 128.9446°. This earthquake was detected by 112 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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
128.9446°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near China, Japan?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 74 km SSE of China, Japan on January 17, 2025 at 19:57 UTC had a depth of 24.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 26.7534°, 128.9446°, which is 74 km SSE of China, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pmld). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, January 17, 2025). M4.5 Earthquake 74 km SSE of China, Japan — January 17, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pmld/