M4.8 Earthquake 71 km SE of Hasaki, Japan — September 21, 2022
2022-09-21 22:36:52 UTC (2022-09-21) · approx. 7:36 AM UTC+9 local
On September 21, 2022 at 22:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 71 km SE of Hasaki, Japan, at a depth of 31.3 km and coordinates 35.2059°, 141.2855°. This earthquake was detected by 122 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
141.2855°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Hasaki, Japan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 71 km SE of Hasaki, Japan on September 21, 2022 at 22:36 UTC had a depth of 31.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 35.2059°, 141.2855°, which is 71 km SE of Hasaki, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ia0s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, September 21, 2022). M4.8 Earthquake 71 km SE of Hasaki, Japan — September 21, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ia0s/