4.6

M4.6 Earthquake near Ryukyu Islands, Japan — August 23, 2022

2022-08-23 19:39:41 UTC (2022-08-23) · approx. 3:39 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time19:39 UTC≈ 3:39 AM UTC+8
Depth108.8 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates26.996°, 127.274°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 23, 2022 at 19:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Ryukyu Islands, Japan, at a depth of 108.8 km and coordinates 26.9959°, 127.2743°. This earthquake was detected by 135 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.

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 27.00°, 127.27°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
108.8 km
intermediate depth
Location
26.9959°N
127.2743°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000i1uw
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Stations Used
135
Azimuthal Gap
59.0°
Min Station Distance
0.905°
RMS Residual
0.86 sec
Last Updated
2022-11-01 15:13:56 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Ryukyu Islands, Japan?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck near Ryukyu Islands, Japan on August 23, 2022 at 19:39 UTC had a depth of 108.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 26.9959°, 127.2743°, which is near Ryukyu Islands, 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.

Actions

View on USGSDid You Feel It?

Location

Japan
View all Japan earthquakes

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000i1uw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, August 23, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake near Ryukyu Islands, Japan — August 23, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000i1uw/