M5.3 Earthquake in the Izu Islands, Japan region — November 21, 2022
2022-11-21 04:25:38 UTC (2022-11-21) · approx. 1:25 PM UTC+9 local
On November 21, 2022 at 04:25 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Izu Islands, Japan region, at a depth of 426.1 km and coordinates 29.2030°, 139.3653°. This earthquake was detected by 127 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
139.3653°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake in the Izu Islands, Japan region?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck in the Izu Islands, Japan region on November 21, 2022 at 04:25 UTC had a depth of 426.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 29.2030°, 139.3653°, which is in the Izu Islands, Japan region. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ir9f). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, November 21, 2022). M5.3 Earthquake in the Izu Islands, Japan region — November 21, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ir9f/