M4.8 Earthquake 12 km SSE of Obihiro, Japan — July 17, 2023
2023-07-17 00:37:11 UTC (2023-07-17) · approx. 10:37 AM UTC+10 local
On July 17, 2023 at 00:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 12 km SSE of Obihiro, Japan, at a depth of 121.4 km and coordinates 42.8215°, 143.2804°. This earthquake was detected by 182 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
143.2804°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Obihiro, Japan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 12 km SSE of Obihiro, Japan on July 17, 2023 at 00:37 UTC had a depth of 121.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 42.8215°, 143.2804°, which is 12 km SSE of Obihiro, 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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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kg8k). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 17, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake 12 km SSE of Obihiro, Japan — July 17, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kg8k/