M4.7 Earthquake 23 km W of Uwajima, Japan — May 31, 2024
2024-05-31 19:02:03 UTC (2024-05-31) · approx. 4:02 AM UTC+9 local
On May 31, 2024 at 19:02 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 23 km W of Uwajima, Japan, at a depth of 44.2 km and coordinates 33.2332°, 132.3066°. This earthquake was detected by 105 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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
132.3066°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Uwajima, Japan?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 23 km W of Uwajima, Japan on May 31, 2024 at 19:02 UTC had a depth of 44.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 33.2332°, 132.3066°, which is 23 km W of Uwajima, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000mpbk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 31, 2024). M4.7 Earthquake 23 km W of Uwajima, Japan — May 31, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000mpbk/