M4.8 Earthquake 99 km SE of Naze, Japan — December 19, 2020
2020-12-19 07:04:47 UTC (2020-12-19) · approx. 4:04 PM UTC+9 local
On December 19, 2020 at 07:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 99 km SE of Naze, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 27.6776°, 130.1283°.
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
130.1283°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Naze, Japan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 99 km SE of Naze, Japan on December 19, 2020 at 07:04 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 27.6776°, 130.1283°, which is 99 km SE of Naze, 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: us7000csdc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 19, 2020). M4.8 Earthquake 99 km SE of Naze, Japan — December 19, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000csdc/