M4.8 Earthquake 118 km ENE of Misawa, Japan — July 13, 2020
2020-07-13 01:42:49 UTC (2020-07-13) · approx. 11:42 AM UTC+10 local
On July 13, 2020 at 01:42 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 118 km ENE of Misawa, Japan, at a depth of 52.7 km and coordinates 41.1378°, 142.6686°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — 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
142.6686°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Misawa, Japan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 118 km ENE of Misawa, Japan on July 13, 2020 at 01:42 UTC had a depth of 52.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 41.1378°, 142.6686°, which is 118 km ENE of Misawa, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000amj1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, July 13, 2020). M4.8 Earthquake 118 km ENE of Misawa, Japan — July 13, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000amj1/