M4.8 Earthquake 19 km SW of Miyazaki, Japan — December 17, 2022
2022-12-17 18:07:57 UTC (2022-12-17) · approx. 3:07 AM UTC+9 local
On December 17, 2022 at 18:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 19 km SW of Miyazaki, Japan, at a depth of 79.9 km and coordinates 31.7711°, 131.2924°. This earthquake was detected by 44 seismic stations with good 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
131.2924°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Miyazaki, Japan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 19 km SW of Miyazaki, Japan on December 17, 2022 at 18:07 UTC had a depth of 79.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 31.7711°, 131.2924°, which is 19 km SW of Miyazaki, 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.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j0g3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 17, 2022). M4.8 Earthquake 19 km SW of Miyazaki, Japan — December 17, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j0g3/