Significant M5.3 Earthquake hit in the East China Sea 118km from Ishigaki (Japan) on Wednesday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 8th, 2025. Last updated April 25th, 2025.

In the East China Sea 118 kilometer from Ishigaki, Japan, a significant MAG-5.3 earthquake occurred just after midnight of Wednesday April 9th, 2025. Roughly 10 million people may have felt this earthquake. Taiwan is also near its epicenter.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the East China Sea, 85 kilometers (53 mi) off the coast of Japan, 118 kilometer west-northwest of Ishigaki in Okinawa. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 128 km.

Date and Time:	Apr 9, 2025 00:26 (Tokyo Time) 17 days ago - Apr 8, 2025 15:26 Universal Time.
Location:	164 km east of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan. Coordinates 24°52'4"N 123°8'34"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.3 Detected by 57 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.041 .
Depth:	128 km (79 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 at depths deeper than 100km are very unlikely to 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 10 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 10 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 380 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 9 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Taiwan , around 10 million people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). In Japan, shaking was experienced too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
968,500	II	Very weak	None
9,157,000	III	Weak	Probably none
380	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 struck within proximity of multiple countries. Japan and Taiwan are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Ishigaki in Okinawa, Japan. Ishigaki is located 118 kilometer (73 mi) west-northwest of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Ishigaki is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Taipei is located 164 km to the west and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Taichung is located 261 km to the west-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Banqiao is located 170 km to the west and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

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

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
118 km (73 mi) ESE from epicenter	Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan.	III Weak
141 km (88 mi) W from epicenter	Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan.	III Weak
144 km (89 mi) W from epicenter	Keelung Keelung, Taiwan.	III Weak
164 km (102 mi) W from epicenter	Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan.	III Weak
170 km (106 mi) W from epicenter	Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan.	III Weak
185 km (115 mi) WSW from epicenter	Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan.	III Weak
187 km (116 mi) W from epicenter	Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
187 km (116 mi) W from epicenter	Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	II Weak
218 km (135 mi) E from epicenter	Hirara Okinawa, Japan.
220 km (137 mi) W from epicenter	Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan.
242 km (150 mi) WSW from epicenter	Puli Nantou County, Taiwan.
261 km (162 mi) WSW from epicenter	Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan.
269 km (167 mi) WSW from epicenter	Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan.
272 km (169 mi) WSW from epicenter	Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan.
272 km (169 mi) WSW from epicenter	Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan.
279 km (173 mi) WSW from epicenter	Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan.
293 km (182 mi) WSW from epicenter	Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan.

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 IV.

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 38 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 38 people have reported shaking in 15 places in 2 countries (Taiwan, 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:

Yungho, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 14 people.
Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan: 4 people.
Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 3 people.
Sanchung, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 3 people.
Chupei, Hsinchu Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Hsinchu, Hsinchu Shih, Taiwan: 2 people.
Hsintien, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Chihu, Changhwa, Taiwan: 1 person.
Chiayi, Chiayi Shih, Taiwan: 1 person.
Suao, Ilan, Taiwan: 1 person.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. At a distance of 99 km (62 mi) south-east of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 3 days later. It measured a magnitude of 3.9

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 5.3	Apr 9, 2025 00:26 (Tokyo Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.9	3 days later Apr 11, 2025 16:49 (Tokyo Time)	99 km (62 mi) SE 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.

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 happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since November 30th, 2024, when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit 294 km (183 mi) further east. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on April 2nd, 2024.

In total, 96 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.3 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 month.

Tsunami very unlikely

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.

For a serious tsunami to occur, earthquakes usually need to have a magnitude of at least 6.5 and occur at a shallow depth of maximum 100km. Neither are the case with this earthquake. However always 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 5.3. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 128 km (79 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 25/04/25 16:48 (21 hours 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.