M5.0 Earthquake 45 km NNW of Shimokizukuri, Japan — September 11, 2022
2022-09-11 21:21:53 UTC (2022-09-11) · approx. 6:21 AM UTC+9 local
On September 11, 2022 at 21:21 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 45 km NNW of Shimokizukuri, Japan, at a depth of 169.1 km and coordinates 41.1898°, 140.1452°. This earthquake was detected by 126 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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
140.1452°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Shimokizukuri, Japan?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 45 km NNW of Shimokizukuri, Japan on September 11, 2022 at 21:21 UTC had a depth of 169.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 41.1898°, 140.1452°, which is 45 km NNW of Shimokizukuri, 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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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000i78n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, September 11, 2022). M5.0 Earthquake 45 km NNW of Shimokizukuri, Japan — September 11, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000i78n/