M4.1 Earthquake 88 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan — May 21, 2023
2023-05-21 23:18:49 UTC (2023-05-21) · approx. 8:18 AM UTC+9 local
On May 21, 2023 at 23:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 88 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 37.6894°, 141.9801°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
141.9801°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Minami-Sōma, Japan?
The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 88 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan on May 21, 2023 at 23:18 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000k48t). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 21, 2023). M4.1 Earthquake 88 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan — May 21, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k48t/