M5.1 Earthquake 50 km SW of Shirahama, Japan — July 9, 2026
2026-07-09 12:58:57 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 9:58 PM UTC+9 local
Felt by 2 people across nearby locations.
On July 9, 2026 at 12:58 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 50 km SW of Shirahama, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 33.3425°, 134.9851°. This earthquake was detected by 43 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 401, 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
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
134.9851°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Shirahama, Japan?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 50 km SW of Shirahama, Japan on July 9, 2026 at 12:58 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 33.3425°, 134.9851°, which is 50 km SW of Shirahama, 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.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000sz7n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 9, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 50 km SW of Shirahama, Japan — July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000sz7n/