M4.2 Earthquake 44 km SE of Honchō, Japan — August 19, 2026
2026-08-19 15:50:20 UTC (2026-08-19) · approx. 1:50 AM UTC+10 local
On August 19, 2026 at 15:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 44 km SE of Honchō, Japan, at a depth of 47.7 km and coordinates 41.8292°, 143.2813°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 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 6.0 mainshock that occurred 16 days ago 32 km SSW of Honchō, Japan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
143.2813°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Honchō, Japan?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 44 km SE of Honchō, Japan on August 19, 2026 at 15:50 UTC had a depth of 47.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 32 km SSW of Honchō, Japan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tlx8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 19, 2026). M4.2 Earthquake 44 km SE of Honchō, Japan — August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 31, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tlx8/