M4.5 Earthquake 30 km NE of Iheya, Japan — March 10, 2025
2025-03-10 23:04:19 UTC (2025-03-10) · approx. 8:04 AM UTC+9 local
On March 10, 2025 at 23:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 30 km NE of Iheya, Japan, at a depth of 59.0 km and coordinates 27.1732°, 128.2254°. This earthquake was detected by 37 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
128.2254°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Iheya, Japan?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 30 km NE of Iheya, Japan on March 10, 2025 at 23:04 UTC had a depth of 59.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 27.1732°, 128.2254°, which is 30 km NE of Iheya, 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.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pzsk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 10, 2025). M4.5 Earthquake 30 km NE of Iheya, Japan — March 10, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pzsk/