5.1

M5.1 Earthquake 70 km W of Hirara, JapanMarch 25, 2022

2022-03-25 03:08:55 UTC (2022-03-25) · approx. 11:08 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM5.1(mb)
Time03:08 UTC11:08 AM UTC+8
Depth71.2 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates24.860°, 124.604°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 25, 2022 at 03:08 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 70 km W of Hirara, Japan, at a depth of 71.2 km and coordinates 24.8602°, 124.6037°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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 24.86°, 124.60°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.1 mb
Depth
71.2 km
intermediate depth
Location
24.8602°N
124.6037°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000gx4l
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
400
Azimuthal Gap
101.0°
Min Station Distance
1.500°
RMS Residual
0.90 sec
Last Updated
2022-05-28 18:35:35 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Hirara, Japan?

The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 70 km W of Hirara, Japan on March 25, 2022 at 03:08 UTC had a depth of 71.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 24.8602°, 124.6037°, which is 70 km W of Hirara, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gx4l). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, March 25, 2022). M5.1 Earthquake 70 km W of Hirara, JapanMarch 25, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gx4l/