M5.2 Earthquake 276 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan — February 28, 2023
2023-02-28 11:12:08 UTC (2023-02-28) · approx. 8:12 PM UTC+9 local
On February 28, 2023 at 11:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 276 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 32.9320°, 141.7018°. This earthquake was detected by 202 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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
141.7018°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Katsuura, Japan?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 276 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan on February 28, 2023 at 11:12 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 32.9320°, 141.7018°, which is 276 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jg86). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, February 28, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake 276 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan — February 28, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jg86/