M4.8 Earthquake 218 km ESE of Onagawa Chō, Japan — February 16, 2024
2024-02-16 14:59:48 UTC (2024-02-16) · approx. 12:59 AM UTC+10 local
On February 16, 2024 at 14:59 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 218 km ESE of Onagawa Chō, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 37.8730°, 143.8357°. This earthquake was detected by 77 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
143.8357°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Onagawa Chō, Japan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 218 km ESE of Onagawa Chō, Japan on February 16, 2024 at 14:59 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 37.8730°, 143.8357°, which is 218 km ESE of Onagawa Chō, 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: us7000lzlp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, February 16, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake 218 km ESE of Onagawa Chō, Japan — February 16, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lzlp/