4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 66 km ENE of Namie, JapanSeptember 1, 2021

2021-09-01 19:17:07 UTC (2021-09-01) · approx. 4:17 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time19:17 UTC4:17 AM UTC+9
Depth65.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates37.721°, 141.687°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 1, 2021 at 19:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 66 km ENE of Namie, Japan, at a depth of 65.0 km and coordinates 37.7211°, 141.6871°.

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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 37.72°, 141.69°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
65.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
37.7211°N
141.6871°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000f6va
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Azimuthal Gap
127.0°
Min Station Distance
3.018°
RMS Residual
0.85 sec
Last Updated
2021-11-06 20:28:31 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Namie, Japan?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 66 km ENE of Namie, Japan on September 1, 2021 at 19:17 UTC had a depth of 65.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 37.7211°, 141.6871°, which is 66 km ENE of Namie, 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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000f6va). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 1, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 66 km ENE of Namie, JapanSeptember 1, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000f6va/