4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 58 km E of Namie, JapanApril 21, 2025

2025-04-21 16:48:05 UTC (2025-04-21) · approx. 1:48 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time16:48 UTC1:48 AM UTC+9
Depth40.1 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates37.457°, 141.659°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 21, 2025 at 16:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 58 km E of Namie, Japan, at a depth of 40.1 km and coordinates 37.4573°, 141.6593°. This earthquake was detected by 90 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 37.46°, 141.66°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
40.1 km
shallow crustal
Location
37.4573°N
141.6593°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000pu18
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Stations Used
90
Azimuthal Gap
95.0°
Min Station Distance
2.909°
RMS Residual
0.99 sec
Last Updated
2025-06-27 00:34:45 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Namie, Japan?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 58 km E of Namie, Japan on April 21, 2025 at 16:48 UTC had a depth of 40.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 37.4573°, 141.6593°, which is 58 km E of Namie, 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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pu18). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, April 21, 2025). M4.6 Earthquake 58 km E of Namie, JapanApril 21, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pu18/