M5.2 Earthquake 164 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan — November 6, 2020
2020-11-06 17:16:54 UTC (2020-11-06) · approx. 3:16 AM UTC+10 local
On November 6, 2020 at 17:16 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 164 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan, at a depth of 21.0 km and coordinates 40.9265°, 143.3621°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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
143.3621°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Hachinohe, Japan?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 164 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan on November 6, 2020 at 17:16 UTC had a depth of 21.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 40.9265°, 143.3621°, which is 164 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cbfp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 6, 2020). M5.2 Earthquake 164 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan — November 6, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cbfp/