M4.5 Earthquake 72 km E of Noda, Japan — February 25, 2025
2025-02-25 23:22:53 UTC (2025-02-25) · approx. 9:22 AM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On February 25, 2025 at 23:22 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 72 km E of Noda, Japan, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 40.0125°, 142.6581°. This earthquake was detected by 58 seismic stations with good 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 16 days ago 117 km E of Noda, Japan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
142.6581°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Noda, Japan?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 72 km E of Noda, Japan on February 25, 2025 at 23:22 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 40.0125°, 142.6581°, which is 72 km E of Noda, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 117 km E of Noda, Japan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pvha). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, February 25, 2025). M4.5 Earthquake 72 km E of Noda, Japan — February 25, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pvha/