4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 59 km SE of Koseda, JapanAugust 4, 2026

2026-08-04 20:01:17 UTC (2026-08-04) · approx. 5:01 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time20:01 UTC5:01 AM UTC+9
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates30.067°, 131.146°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 4, 2026 at 20:01 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 59 km SE of Koseda, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 30.0665°, 131.1461°. This earthquake was detected by 38 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.

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 30.07°, 131.15°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
30.0665°N
131.1461°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000tj0d
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
38
Azimuthal Gap
128.0°
Min Station Distance
1.557°
RMS Residual
0.56 sec
Last Updated
2026-08-20 17:20:29 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Koseda, Japan?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 59 km SE of Koseda, Japan on August 4, 2026 at 20:01 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 30.0665°, 131.1461°, which is 59 km SE of Koseda, 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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tj0d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 4, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 59 km SE of Koseda, JapanAugust 4, 2026. Retrieved August 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tj0d/