4.9

M4.9 Earthquake 6 km SE of Makurazaki, JapanNovember 13, 2021

2021-11-13 04:45:06 UTC (2021-11-13) · approx. 1:45 PM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time04:45 UTC1:45 PM UTC+9
Depth151.5 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates31.228°, 130.373°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 13, 2021 at 04:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 6 km SE of Makurazaki, Japan, at a depth of 151.5 km and coordinates 31.2283°, 130.3730°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 31.23°, 130.37°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
151.5 km
intermediate depth
Location
31.2283°N
130.3730°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ftrg
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Azimuthal Gap
68.0°
Min Station Distance
0.288°
RMS Residual
0.79 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 22:19:58 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Makurazaki, Japan?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 6 km SE of Makurazaki, Japan on November 13, 2021 at 04:45 UTC had a depth of 151.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 31.2283°, 130.3730°, which is 6 km SE of Makurazaki, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ftrg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, November 13, 2021). M4.9 Earthquake 6 km SE of Makurazaki, JapanNovember 13, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ftrg/