M5.3 Earthquake 126 km SSE of Itoman, Japan — July 12, 2024
2024-07-12 23:18:47 UTC (2024-07-12) · approx. 8:18 AM UTC+9 local
On July 12, 2024 at 23:18 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 126 km SSE of Itoman, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 25.0886°, 128.1823°. This earthquake was detected by 289 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
128.1823°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Itoman, Japan?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 126 km SSE of Itoman, Japan on July 12, 2024 at 23:18 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 25.0886°, 128.1823°, which is 126 km SSE of Itoman, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000myzm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, July 12, 2024). M5.3 Earthquake 126 km SSE of Itoman, Japan — July 12, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000myzm/