M5.0 Earthquake 158 km SSE of Shima, Japan — December 25, 2023
2023-12-25 04:49:01 UTC (2023-12-25) · approx. 1:49 PM UTC+9 local
On December 25, 2023 at 04:49 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 158 km SSE of Shima, Japan, at a depth of 336.2 km and coordinates 33.1490°, 137.7852°. This earthquake was detected by 133 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
137.7852°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Shima, Japan?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 158 km SSE of Shima, Japan on December 25, 2023 at 04:49 UTC had a depth of 336.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 33.1490°, 137.7852°, which is 158 km SSE of Shima, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000llbp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 25, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 158 km SSE of Shima, Japan — December 25, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000llbp/