M5.0 Earthquake 265 km ESE of Yamada, Japan — January 28, 2022
2022-01-28 16:32:30 UTC (2022-01-28) · approx. 2:32 AM UTC+10 local
On January 28, 2022 at 16:32 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 265 km ESE of Yamada, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 38.6180°, 144.8209°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
144.8209°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Yamada, Japan?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 265 km ESE of Yamada, Japan on January 28, 2022 at 16:32 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 38.6180°, 144.8209°, which is 265 km ESE of Yamada, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ghnq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, January 28, 2022). M5.0 Earthquake 265 km ESE of Yamada, Japan — January 28, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ghnq/