5.0

M5.0 Earthquake 122 km SSE of Kushiro, JapanOctober 27, 2022

2022-10-27 13:25:05 UTC (2022-10-27) · approx. 11:25 PM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM5.0(mb)
Time13:25 UTC11:25 PM UTC+10
Depth30.3 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates41.908°, 144.760°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 27, 2022 at 13:25 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 122 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan, at a depth of 30.3 km and coordinates 41.9079°, 144.7601°. This earthquake was detected by 45 seismic stations with good 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 41.91°, 144.76°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mb
Depth
30.3 km
shallow crustal
Location
41.9079°N
144.7601°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ikpr
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Stations Used
45
Azimuthal Gap
136.0°
Min Station Distance
1.200°
RMS Residual
0.50 sec
Last Updated
2023-01-03 15:23:42 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Kushiro, Japan?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 122 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan on October 27, 2022 at 13:25 UTC had a depth of 30.3 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 41.9079°, 144.7601°, which is 122 km SSE of Kushiro, 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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ikpr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 27, 2022). M5.0 Earthquake 122 km SSE of Kushiro, JapanOctober 27, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ikpr/