M5.2 Earthquake 73 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan — March 6, 2023
2023-03-06 22:24:47 UTC (2023-03-06) · approx. 8:24 AM UTC+10 local
On March 6, 2023 at 22:24 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 73 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan, at a depth of 41.2 km and coordinates 42.3233°, 144.5598°. This earthquake was detected by 216 seismic stations with excellent 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
144.5598°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Kushiro, Japan?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 73 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan on March 6, 2023 at 22:24 UTC had a depth of 41.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 42.3233°, 144.5598°, which is 73 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 5.2 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.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jhrf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 6, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake 73 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan — March 6, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jhrf/