M5.1 Earthquake 110 km NNW of Hirara, Japan — March 22, 2025
2025-03-22 22:14:27 UTC (2025-03-22) · approx. 6:14 AM UTC+8 local
On March 22, 2025 at 22:14 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 110 km NNW of Hirara, Japan, at a depth of 126.9 km and coordinates 25.6669°, 124.7579°. This earthquake was detected by 87 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
124.7579°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Hirara, Japan?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 110 km NNW of Hirara, Japan on March 22, 2025 at 22:14 UTC had a depth of 126.9 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 25.6669°, 124.7579°, which is 110 km NNW of Hirara, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000plxa). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 22, 2025). M5.1 Earthquake 110 km NNW of Hirara, Japan — March 22, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000plxa/