Shallow M6.2 Earthquake hit in the Philippine Sea near Miyakonojō (Japan) on Wednesday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 2nd, 2025. Last updated April 11th, 2025.

In the evening of Wednesday April 2nd, 2025, a shallow and strong MAG-6.2 earthquake hit in the Philippine Sea 90 kilometer from Miyakonojō, Japan. Around 3.6 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, 44 kilometers (27 mi) off the coast of Japan, 90 kilometer south-southeast of Miyakonojō in Miyazaki. 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 2, 2025 23:03 (Tokyo Time) 9 days ago - Apr 2, 2025 14:03 Universal Time.
Location:	90 km SSE of Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan. Coordinates 31°0'6"N 131°28'21"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.2 Detected by 37 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.051 .
Depth:	26 km (16 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate 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 3.6 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 3.6 million 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.

An estimated 25,910 people were exposed to level V. At this level, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 2.6 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
950,800	III	Weak	Probably none
2,633,000	IV	Light	Likely none
25,910	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 54 kilometer (34 mi) north-east of the epicenter. Nishinoomote experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Kagoshima is located 108 km to the northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Fukuoka is located 305 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Kumamoto is located 214 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
54 km (34 mi) SW from epicenter	Nishinoomote Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
58 km (36 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kushima Miyazaki, Japan.	V Moderate
63 km (39 mi) NW from epicenter	Shibushi Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
67 km (42 mi) N from epicenter	Nichinan Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
73 km (45 mi) NW from epicenter	Kanoya Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
82 km (51 mi) WNW from epicenter	Ibusuki Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
84 km (52 mi) NNW from epicenter	Sueyoshichō-ninokata Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
90 km (56 mi) NNW from epicenter	Miyakonojō Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
91 km (57 mi) NW from epicenter	Tarumizu Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
102 km (63 mi) N from epicenter	Miyazaki Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
105 km (65 mi) NW from epicenter	Kokubu-matsuki Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
106 km (66 mi) NW from epicenter	Hamanoichi Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
108 km (67 mi) NW from epicenter	Kagoshima Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
112 km (70 mi) NW from epicenter	Kajiki Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
114 km (71 mi) WNW from epicenter	Makurazaki Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
119 km (74 mi) WNW from epicenter	Kaseda-shirakame Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
119 km (74 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kobayashi Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
122 km (76 mi) N from epicenter	Tsuma Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
123 km (76 mi) WNW from epicenter	Ijūin Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
126 km (78 mi) N from epicenter	Takanabe Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
131 km (81 mi) N from epicenter	Kawaminami Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
139 km (86 mi) NW from epicenter	Kushikino Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
143 km (89 mi) NW from epicenter	Ōkuchi-shinohara Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
144 km (89 mi) NW from epicenter	Satsumasendai Kagoshima, Japan.	IV Light
151 km (94 mi) NNW from epicenter	Hitoyoshi Kumamoto, Japan.	IV Light
160 km (99 mi) NW from epicenter	Izumi Kagoshima, Japan.	III Weak
164 km (102 mi) N from epicenter	Kadogawa Miyazaki, Japan.	IV Light
165 km (103 mi) NW from epicenter	Akune Kagoshima, Japan.	III Weak
169 km (105 mi) NW from epicenter	Minamata Kumamoto, Japan.	III Weak
177 km (110 mi) N from epicenter	Nobeoka Miyazaki, Japan.	III Weak
186 km (116 mi) NNW from epicenter	Honmachi Kumamoto, Japan.	IV Light
198 km (123 mi) NNW from epicenter	Matsubase Kumamoto, Japan.	IV Light
214 km (133 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kumamoto Kumamoto, Japan.
245 km (152 mi) NW from epicenter	Isahaya Nagasaki, Japan.
246 km (153 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ōmuta Fukuoka, Japan.
246 km (153 mi) NW from epicenter	Nagasaki Nagasaki, Japan.	III Weak
248 km (154 mi) N from epicenter	Ōita Ōita, Japan.
250 km (155 mi) N from epicenter	Tsurusaki Ōita, Japan.
253 km (157 mi) N from epicenter	Beppu Ōita, Japan.
257 km (160 mi) NW from epicenter	Ōmura Nagasaki, Japan.
272 km (169 mi) NNW from epicenter	Saga Saga, Japan.
273 km (170 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kurume Fukuoka, Japan.
292 km (181 mi) NW from epicenter	Sasebo Nagasaki, Japan.
292 km (181 mi) NNW from epicenter	Chikushino-shi Fukuoka, Japan.
297 km (185 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ōnojō Fukuoka, Japan.
305 km (190 mi) NNW from epicenter	Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan.
322 km (200 mi) N from epicenter	Kitakyushu Fukuoka, Japan.
331 km (206 mi) N from epicenter	Shimonoseki Yamaguchi, Japan.
338 km (210 mi) NNE from epicenter	Matsuyama Ehime, Japan.
343 km (213 mi) NE from epicenter	Kochi Kōchi, Japan.
389 km (242 mi) NNE from epicenter	Hiroshima Hirochima, Japan.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is V.

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 12 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 12 people have reported shaking in 8 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: 3 people.
Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan: 2 people.
Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan: 2 people.
Chiba, Chiba, Japan: 1 person.
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan: 1 person.
Aso, Kumamoto, Japan: 1 person.
Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan: 1 person.
Beppu, Ōita, Japan: 1 person.

2 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 2 smaller aftershocks occurred. At a distance of 14 km (9 mi) north of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 8 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 4.7

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 6.2	Apr 2, 2025 23:03 (Tokyo Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.7	10 mins later Apr 2, 2025 23:13 (Tokyo Time)	16 km (10 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.7	8 hrs later Apr 3, 2025 06:42 (Tokyo Time)	14 km (9 mi) N 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).

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 January 13th, 2025, when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit 93 km (58 mi) further north. An even stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on August 8th, 2024.

In total, 7 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.2 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 year.

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 6.2. 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 11/04/25 14:08 (1 hour ago). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.