M4.5 Earthquake 34 km W of Ishigaki, Japan — April 17, 2025
2025-04-17 20:10:08 UTC (2025-04-17) · approx. 4:10 AM UTC+8 local
On April 17, 2025 at 20:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 34 km W of Ishigaki, Japan, at a depth of 17.2 km and coordinates 24.3480°, 123.8207°. This earthquake was detected by 69 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
123.8207°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Ishigaki, Japan?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 34 km W of Ishigaki, Japan on April 17, 2025 at 20:10 UTC had a depth of 17.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 24.3480°, 123.8207°, which is 34 km W of Ishigaki, 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: us6000q6vp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, April 17, 2025). M4.5 Earthquake 34 km W of Ishigaki, Japan — April 17, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000q6vp/