Shallow M5.9 Earthquake struck on Tuesday Morning in the Philippine Sea 264km from Kagoshima (Japan).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 15th, 2024. Last updated May 20th, 2024.

A shallow and significant M5.9 earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea 264 kilometer from Kagoshima, Japan in the morning of Tuesday April 16th, 2024. Roughly 80 thousand people may have felt this earthquake.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, 139 kilometers (86 mi) off the coast of Japan, 264 kilometer south-southeast of Kagoshima. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 7 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Apr 16, 2024 07:38 (Tokyo Time) - Apr 15, 2024 22:38 Universal Time.
Location:	264 km SSE of Kagoshima, Japan. Coordinates 29°26'7"N 131°46'24"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 48 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.045 .
Depth:	7 km (5 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 80 thousand people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 80 thousand people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

Light shaking and likely no damage may have been experienced by an estimated 120 people. At IV, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 80 thousand). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Japan .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
76,710	III	Weak	Probably none
120	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Japan . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Nishinoomote in Kagoshima, Japan. Nishinoomote is located 162 kilometer (101 mi) south-southeast of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Nishinoomote is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Kagoshima is located 264 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Kumamoto is located 389 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Miyazaki is located 278 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
162 km (101 mi) NNW from epicenter	Nishinoomote Kagoshima, Japan.	III Weak
227 km (141 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ibusuki Kagoshima, Japan.
234 km (145 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kanoya Kagoshima, Japan.
234 km (145 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kushima Miyazaki, Japan.
236 km (147 mi) NNW from epicenter	Shibushi Kagoshima, Japan.
244 km (152 mi) N from epicenter	Nichinan Miyazaki, Japan.
247 km (153 mi) NW from epicenter	Makurazaki Kagoshima, Japan.
250 km (155 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tarumizu Kagoshima, Japan.
253 km (157 mi) WSW from epicenter	Naze Kagoshima, Japan.
257 km (160 mi) NNW from epicenter	Sueyoshichō-ninokata Kagoshima, Japan.
261 km (162 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kaseda-shirakame Kagoshima, Japan.
264 km (164 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kagoshima Kagoshima, Japan.
264 km (164 mi) NNW from epicenter	Miyakonojō Miyazaki, Japan.
272 km (169 mi) NNW from epicenter	Hamanoichi Kagoshima, Japan.
273 km (170 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kokubu-matsuki Kagoshima, Japan.
276 km (171 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ijūin Kagoshima, Japan.
277 km (172 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kajiki Kagoshima, Japan.
278 km (173 mi) N from epicenter	Miyazaki Miyazaki, Japan.
292 km (181 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kushikino Kagoshima, Japan.
293 km (182 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kobayashi Miyazaki, Japan.
298 km (185 mi) N from epicenter	Tsuma Miyazaki, Japan.
300 km (186 mi) NNW from epicenter	Satsumasendai Kagoshima, Japan.
301 km (187 mi) N from epicenter	Takanabe Miyazaki, Japan.
307 km (191 mi) N from epicenter	Kawaminami Miyazaki, Japan.
313 km (194 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ōkuchi-shinohara Kagoshima, Japan.
324 km (201 mi) NNW from epicenter	Akune Kagoshima, Japan.
324 km (201 mi) NNW from epicenter	Hitoyoshi Kumamoto, Japan.
324 km (201 mi) NNW from epicenter	Izumi Kagoshima, Japan.
336 km (209 mi) NNW from epicenter	Minamata Kumamoto, Japan.
338 km (210 mi) N from epicenter	Kadogawa Miyazaki, Japan.
350 km (217 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ushibukamachi Kumamoto, Japan.
350 km (217 mi) N from epicenter	Nobeoka Miyazaki, Japan.
359 km (223 mi) NNW from epicenter	Honmachi Kumamoto, Japan.
370 km (230 mi) NNW from epicenter	Hondomachi-hondo Kumamoto, Japan.
373 km (232 mi) NNW from epicenter	Matsubase Kumamoto, Japan.
376 km (234 mi) NNW from epicenter	Uto Kumamoto, Japan.
376 km (234 mi) NNW from epicenter	Mifune Kumamoto, Japan.
389 km (242 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kumamoto Kumamoto, Japan.
391 km (243 mi) N from epicenter	Saiki Ōita, Japan.
393 km (244 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ōzu Kumamoto, Japan.
394 km (245 mi) N from epicenter	Takedamachi Ōita, Japan.
395 km (245 mi) N from epicenter	Aso Kumamoto, Japan.
396 km (246 mi) NNW from epicenter	Shimabara Nagasaki, Japan.
399 km (248 mi) NNW from epicenter	Uekimachi-mōno Kumamoto, Japan.
400 km (249 mi) NNE from epicenter	Sukumo Kōchi, Japan.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is IV. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in Japan.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

We monitor for foreshocks or aftershocks that have a magnitude of 2.5+ and occur within 100km (62 mi) of the epicenter of this earthquake. So far no such earthquakes have been detected.

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since December 9th, 2021, when a 6 magnitude earthquake hit 231 km (144 mi) further west. An even stronger magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck on January 8th, 2019.

In total, 4 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.9 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 3 years.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 7 km (5 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 20/05/24 01:48 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.