4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 10 km NE of Muroran, JapanFebruary 24, 2025

2025-02-24 16:30:41 UTC (2025-02-24) · approx. 1:30 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time16:30 UTC1:30 AM UTC+9
Depth109.6 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates42.375°, 141.083°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On February 24, 2025 at 16:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 10 km NE of Muroran, Japan, at a depth of 109.6 km and coordinates 42.3750°, 141.0834°. This earthquake was detected by 135 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 42.38°, 141.08°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
109.6 km
intermediate depth
Location
42.3750°N
141.0834°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pv53
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Stations Used
135
Azimuthal Gap
94.0°
Min Station Distance
1.584°
RMS Residual
0.69 sec
Last Updated
2025-05-06 21:39:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Muroran, Japan?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 10 km NE of Muroran, Japan on February 24, 2025 at 16:30 UTC had a depth of 109.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 42.3750°, 141.0834°, which is 10 km NE of Muroran, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pv53). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, February 24, 2025). M4.6 Earthquake 10 km NE of Muroran, JapanFebruary 24, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pv53/