A DAMAGING and strong MAG-6.3 earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea 17 kilometer from Uwajima, Japan in the evening of Wednesday April 17th, 2024. Earthquakes like this can cause significant economic damage and have a significant risk at casualties.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, right off the coast of Japan (7 mi offshore), 17 kilometer west-southwest of Uwajima in Ehime. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 26 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
Date and Time: | Apr 17, 2024 23:14 (Tokyo Time) - Apr 17, 2024 14:14 Universal Time. |
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Location: | 17 km WSW of Uwajima, Ehime, Japan. Coordinates 33°9'44"N 132°23'14"E. |
Map: | Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
Magnitude: | MAG 6.3 Detected by 69 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.037 . |
Depth: | 26 km (16 mi) A quite shallow depth. |
Max. Intensity: | VIII
Severe 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. |
Significant impact predicted
Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 50% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 90% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.
The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level ORANGE (orange). They expect an 35% likelyhood of between 100 and 1,000 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls between 1 and 10,000 million USD.
Roughly 21 million people exposed to shaking
An estimated 21 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.
An estimated 35,200 people were exposed to level VIII. At this level, severe shaking and likely moderate to heavy damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 18 million) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is 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 |
1,063,000 | III |
Weak | Probably none |
17,560,000 | IV |
Light | Likely none |
1,559,000 | V |
Moderate | Very light |
225,600 | VI |
Strong | Light |
67,820 | VII |
Very Strong | Moderate |
35,200 | 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 . Uwajima in Ehime, Japan is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 17 kilometer (11 mi) west-southwest of Uwajima. The intensity of shaking and damage in Uwajima is estimated to be around level VIII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (severe shaking, likely moderate to heavy damage).
Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Busan is located 377 km to the northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Hiroshima is located 138 km to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Osaka is located 334 km to the east-northeast (intensity unknown, possibly low).
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.
Overview of nearby places
Distance | Place | Intensity (MMI) |
---|---|---|
17 km (11 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Uwajima Ehime, Japan. |
VIII
Severe |
41 km (25 mi) SE from epicenter |
Sukumo Kōchi, Japan. |
VI
Strong |
41 km (25 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Ōzu Ehime, Japan. |
VI
Strong |
49 km (30 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Tsukumiura Ōita, Japan. |
VI
Strong |
51 km (32 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Saiki Ōita, Japan. |
VI
Strong |
54 km (34 mi) W from epicenter |
Usuki Ōita, Japan. |
VI
Strong |
55 km (34 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Nakamura Kōchi, Japan. |
VI
Strong |
65 km (40 mi) W from epicenter |
Tsurusaki Ōita, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
72 km (45 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Iyo Ehime, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
74 km (46 mi) W from epicenter |
Ōita Ōita, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
76 km (47 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Masaki-chō Ehime, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
77 km (48 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Kitsuki Ōita, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
83 km (52 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Matsuyama Ehime, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
83 km (52 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Hiji Ōita, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
84 km (52 mi) W from epicenter |
Beppu Ōita, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
88 km (55 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Susaki Kōchi, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
93 km (58 mi) SW from epicenter |
Nobeoka Miyazaki, Japan. |
IV
Light |
93 km (58 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Yanai Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
95 km (59 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Takedamachi Ōita, Japan. |
IV
Light |
97 km (60 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Hikari Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
98 km (61 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Hōjō Ehime, Japan. |
V
Moderate |
98 km (61 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Bungo-Takada-shi Ōita, Japan. |
IV
Light |
105 km (65 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kudamatsu Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
112 km (70 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Tokuyama Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
112 km (70 mi) NE from epicenter |
Saijō Ehime, Japan. |
IV
Light |
112 km (70 mi) N from epicenter |
Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
115 km (71 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Kochi Kōchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
120 km (75 mi) N from epicenter |
Kure Hirochima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
121 km (75 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Nakatsu Ōita, Japan. |
IV
Light |
123 km (76 mi) NE from epicenter |
Niihama Ehime, Japan. |
IV
Light |
125 km (78 mi) NW from epicenter |
Hōfu Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
132 km (82 mi) N from epicenter |
Hatsukaichi Hirochima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
136 km (85 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ube Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
138 km (86 mi) N from epicenter |
Hiroshima Hirochima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
142 km (88 mi) NW from epicenter |
Yamaguchi Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
145 km (90 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Yukuhashi Fukuoka, Japan. |
IV
Light |
152 km (94 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Mihara Hirochima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
158 km (98 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Onomichi Hirochima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
159 km (99 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Shimonoseki Yamaguchi, Japan. |
IV
Light |
162 km (101 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Kitakyushu Fukuoka, Japan. |
IV
Light |
163 km (101 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Kumamoto Kumamoto, Japan. |
IV
Light |
166 km (103 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Miyazaki Miyazaki, Japan. |
IV
Light |
173 km (107 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Fukuyama Hirochima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
174 km (108 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Masuda Shimane, Japan. |
IV
Light |
175 km (109 mi) W from epicenter |
Kurume Fukuoka, Japan. |
IV
Light |
181 km (112 mi) W from epicenter |
Ōmuta Fukuoka, Japan. |
IV
Light |
189 km (117 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan. |
IV
Light |
194 km (121 mi) W from epicenter |
Saga Saga, Japan. |
IV
Light |
201 km (125 mi) NE from epicenter |
Takamatsu Kagawa, Japan. |
IV
Light |
203 km (126 mi) NE from epicenter |
Kurashiki Okayama, Japan. |
IV
Light |
218 km (135 mi) NE from epicenter |
Okayama Okayama, Japan. |
IV
Light |
225 km (140 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Tokushima Tokushima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
238 km (148 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Nagasaki Nagasaki, Japan. |
|
247 km (153 mi) SW from epicenter |
Kagoshima Kagoshima, Japan. |
IV
Light |
267 km (166 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Yonago Tottori, Japan. |
|
281 km (175 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Minato Wakayama, Japan. |
|
282 km (175 mi) NE from epicenter |
Himeji Hyōgo, Japan. |
|
334 km (208 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Osaka Ōsaka, Japan. |
|
358 km (222 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Nara-shi Nara, Japan. |
|
373 km (232 mi) NE from epicenter |
Kyoto Kyoto, Japan. |
|
377 km (234 mi) NW from epicenter |
Busan 부산광역시, South Korea. |
|
378 km (235 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Nabari Mie, Japan. |
|
380 km (236 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Ōtsu Shiga, Japan. |
|
386 km (240 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ulsan Ulsan, South Korea. |
|
396 km (246 mi) NW from epicenter |
Kimhae 경상남도, South Korea. |
Earthquake Intensity Map
The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VIII. 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.
Shaking reported by 100 people in 3 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 100 people have reported shaking in 55 places in 3 countries (Taiwan, Japan, Korea (South)).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.
Places with most reports:
- Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan: 11 people.
- Uwajima, Ehime, Japan: 7 people.
- Ōsaka, Ōsaka, Japan: 5 people.
- Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan: 5 people.
- Pusan, Pusan, Korea (South): 4 people.
- Innoshima, Hiroshima, Japan: 3 people.
- Fuchū (E of Hiroshima), Hiroshima, Japan: 3 people.
- Tamano, Okayama, Japan: 3 people.
- Okayama, Okayama, Japan: 3 people.
- Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan: 3 people.
7 Aftershocks detected
After this earthquake struck, 7 smaller aftershocks occurred. At a distance of 9 km (6 mi) west-northwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 13 mins later. It measured a magnitude of 4.3
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
---|---|---|---|
Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 6.3 |
Apr 17, 2024 23:14 (Tokyo Time) | - |
Aftershock | M 4.3 |
13 mins later Apr 17, 2024 23:27 (Tokyo Time) | 9 km (6 mi) WNW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.5 |
38 mins later Apr 17, 2024 23:52 (Tokyo Time) | 4 km (2.7 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.7 |
1 hr later Apr 18, 2024 00:30 (Tokyo Time) | 4 km (2.7 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.5 |
1 hr later Apr 18, 2024 00:44 (Tokyo Time) | 4 km (2.7 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.7 |
7 hrs later Apr 18, 2024 06:31 (Tokyo Time) | 4 km (2.7 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.7 |
13 hrs later Apr 18, 2024 12:16 (Tokyo Time) | 15 km (10 mi) N from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 3.8 |
1 day later Apr 18, 2024 23:46 (Tokyo Time) | 4 km (2.7 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.
In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).This is an unusually powerful earthquake
Earthquakes of this strength are not so common in the region, but it's not the first time. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since January 21st, 2022, when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 58 km (36 mi) further south-southwest. An even stronger magnitude 7 earthquake struck on April 15th, 2016.
In total, 2 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.3 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 5 years.
Low tsunami risk
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 6.3. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 26 km (16 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 02/05/24 01:28 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.