M4.6 Earthquake 71 km NNE of Ishigaki, Japan — September 14, 2020
2020-09-14 11:30:19 UTC (2020-09-14) · approx. 7:30 PM UTC+8 local
On September 14, 2020 at 11:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 71 km NNE of Ishigaki, Japan, at a depth of 92.1 km and coordinates 24.9486°, 124.3991°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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
124.3991°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Ishigaki, Japan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 71 km NNE of Ishigaki, Japan on September 14, 2020 at 11:30 UTC had a depth of 92.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 24.9486°, 124.3991°, which is 71 km NNE of Ishigaki, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bmzu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 14, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 71 km NNE of Ishigaki, Japan — September 14, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bmzu/