M4.7 Earthquake 111 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan — July 19, 2020
2020-07-19 18:02:44 UTC (2020-07-19) · approx. 3:02 AM UTC+9 local
On July 19, 2020 at 18:02 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 111 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan, at a depth of 18.4 km and coordinates 36.7227°, 142.0712°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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
142.0712°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Iwaki, Japan?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 111 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan on July 19, 2020 at 18:02 UTC had a depth of 18.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.7227°, 142.0712°, which is 111 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000arac). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, July 19, 2020). M4.7 Earthquake 111 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan — July 19, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000arac/