In the evening of Sunday November 17th, 2024, an unusually powerful MAG-6.1 earthquake hit in the Philippine Sea 291 kilometer from Kagoshima, Japan. Roughly 90 thousand people may have felt this earthquake.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, 155 kilometers (96 mi) off the coast of Japan, 291 kilometer south-southeast of Kagoshima. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 8 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
Date and Time: | Nov 17, 2024 21:16 (Tokyo Time) - Nov 17, 2024 12:16 Universal Time. |
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Location: | 291 km SSE of Kagoshima, Japan. Coordinates 29°3'0"N 131°23'44"E. |
Map: | Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
Magnitude: | MAG 6.1 Detected by 56 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.041 . |
Depth: | 8 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 90 thousand people exposed to shaking
The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 90 thousand have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.
Light shaking and likely no damage may have been experienced by an estimated 5,410 people. At IV, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. The majority of people (roughly 90 thousand) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably 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 |
88,060 | III |
Weak | Probably none |
5,410 | 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 . Located 191 kilometer (119 mi) south-southeast of the epicenter of this earthquake, Nishinoomote (Kagoshima, Japan) is the nearest significant population center. Nishinoomote experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.
Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Kagoshima is located 291 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Miyazaki is located 319 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low). Miyakonojō is located 300 km to the north (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) |
---|---|---|
191 km (119 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Nishinoomote Kagoshima, Japan. |
III
Weak |
201 km (125 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Naze Kagoshima, Japan. |
III
Weak |
253 km (157 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ibusuki Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
265 km (165 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kanoya Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
267 km (166 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Makurazaki Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
271 km (168 mi) N from epicenter |
Kushima Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
271 km (168 mi) N from epicenter |
Shibushi Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
279 km (173 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Tarumizu Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
283 km (176 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kaseda-shirakame Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
284 km (176 mi) N from epicenter |
Nichinan Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
291 km (181 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kagoshima Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
291 km (181 mi) N from epicenter |
Sueyoshichō-ninokata Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
300 km (186 mi) N from epicenter |
Miyakonojō Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
301 km (187 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ijūin Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
303 km (188 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Hamanoichi Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
304 km (189 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kokubu-matsuki Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
306 km (190 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kajiki Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
316 km (196 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kushikino Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
319 km (198 mi) N from epicenter |
Miyazaki Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
325 km (202 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Satsumasendai Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
329 km (204 mi) N from epicenter |
Kobayashi Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
339 km (211 mi) N from epicenter |
Tsuma Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
343 km (213 mi) N from epicenter |
Takanabe Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
344 km (214 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ōkuchi-shinohara Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
349 km (217 mi) N from epicenter |
Kawaminami Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
349 km (217 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Akune Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
351 km (218 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Izumi Kagoshima, Japan. |
|
357 km (222 mi) N from epicenter |
Hitoyoshi Kumamoto, Japan. |
|
365 km (227 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Minamata Kumamoto, Japan. |
|
374 km (232 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ushibukamachi Kumamoto, Japan. |
|
381 km (237 mi) N from epicenter |
Kadogawa Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
392 km (244 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Honmachi Kumamoto, Japan. |
|
394 km (245 mi) N from epicenter |
Nobeoka Miyazaki, Japan. |
|
397 km (247 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Hondomachi-hondo Kumamoto, 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.
Shaking reported by 3 people
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 3 people have reported shaking in 3 places, all within 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.
- Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan: 1 person.
- Saku, Nagano, Japan: 1 person.
Risk of aftershocks?
This earthquake did not have any significant foreshocks nor aftershocks occurring within 100km (62 mi) of its epicenter.
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.
The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).This is the strongest earthquake in 6 years
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 8th, 2019, when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 174 km (108 mi) further north-northwest. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.
In total, 1 earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 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 10 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 6.1. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 8 km (5 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 02/12/24 13:18 (). 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.