M4.6 Earthquake 216 km SSE of Wada, Japan — December 3, 2024
2024-12-03 21:05:26 UTC (2024-12-03) · approx. 6:05 AM UTC+9 local
On December 3, 2024 at 21:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 216 km SSE of Wada, Japan, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 33.2848°, 141.0556°. This earthquake was detected by 34 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
141.0556°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Wada, Japan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 216 km SSE of Wada, Japan on December 3, 2024 at 21:05 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 33.2848°, 141.0556°, which is 216 km SSE of Wada, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nzc1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 3, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 216 km SSE of Wada, Japan — December 3, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nzc1/