M5.0 Earthquake 43 km E of Nishinoomote, Japan — February 5, 2024
2024-02-05 08:30:50 UTC (2024-02-05) · approx. 5:30 PM UTC+9 local
On February 5, 2024 at 08:30 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 43 km E of Nishinoomote, Japan, at a depth of 38.3 km and coordinates 30.7824°, 131.4467°. This earthquake was detected by 83 seismic stations with good 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
131.4467°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Nishinoomote, Japan?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 43 km E of Nishinoomote, Japan on February 5, 2024 at 08:30 UTC had a depth of 38.3 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 30.7824°, 131.4467°, which is 43 km E of Nishinoomote, 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: us7000lx1f). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, February 5, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake 43 km E of Nishinoomote, Japan — February 5, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lx1f/