Very Strong earthquake along the east coast of Honshu, Japan (Ishinomaki area)
Last update: May 18, 2013 at 1:00 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Update 08:10 UTC : Water pipes broke near the seaport of Shiogama (Miyagi Prefecture), flooding a road.
Some trains were stopped after the quake to check for potential damage.
Update : JMA5+ intensity expected at Ishinomaki-shi Kobuchihama. Based on our experience with Japanese earthquakes, earthquake-report.com considers JMA 5+ intensity as a potentially dangerous shaking.
This quake was felt as far as Tokyo. JMA says it had JMA-Intensity upper five in some parts of Miyagi Prefecture, which might cause some minor damage. So far there are no damage reports.
Image courtesy JMA Japan
52km (32mi) NE of Namie, Japan
65km (40mi) ESE of Watari, Japan
66km (41mi) ESE of Marumori, Japan
67km (42mi) ESE of Kakuda, Japan
279km (173mi) NE of Tokyo, Japan
Very dangerous earthquake hits Sumoto, Honshu, Japan
Last update: April 12, 2013 at 9:09 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 5.7 ; M6.0 JMA
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2013-04-13 05:33:18
GMT/UTC Time : 2013-04-12 20:33:18
Depth (Hypocenter) : 10 km
Update 21:11 UTC : Based on our experience with Japanese earthquakes, earthquake-report.com considers JMA 5+ intensity as a potentially dangerous shaking. This earthquake has been labeled with an intensity 6-, which is clearly above the ER damage level.
6- Awaji-shi Gunge*, Awaji-shi Shizuki*
5+ Minami-awaji-shi Hirota*, Minami-awaji-shi Minato* and Awaji-shi Kuruma*
Update 21:08 UTC : NO tsunami alert is called by JMA Japan
Update 21:06 UTC : The full Awaji Island area has 157,000 people.
Kobe was obviously the most famous earthquake that was around this area in 1995.
With M6 and 5.3km depth, the USGS shakemap shows intensity VIII shaking and around $10 million damage.
Update 20:57 UTC : Sumoto, the city very close to the earthquake epicenter has approx. 50000 inhabitants
A strong earthquake has hit onshore of M6.0 and shallow.
JMA intensities of up to 6- are possible – which would cause damage near the epicenter. More to follow.
Dangerous intensity locations as provided by JMA Japan
9km (6mi) NW of Sumoto, Japan
20km (12mi) NNE of Fukura, Japan
28km (17mi) SSW of Akashi, Japan
32km (20mi) NE of Naruto, Japan
465km (289mi) WSW of Tokyo, Japan
Last update: November 24, 2012 at 12:48 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Earthquake below the greater Tokyo area, Japan – 首都圏、日本下の地震
USGS
Near The South Coast Of Honshu, Japan
Nov 24 08:59 AM
4.8
Based on an increasing number of visitors joining us from Japan, we believe that an earthquake was felt. Update : The hypocenter of this earthquake was at an intermediate depth but the epicenter was very close to Tokyo. As the earthquake was so close to Tokyo, the capital had almost no warning as the P wave arrived almost at the same time than the S wave. Update 09:31 UTC : JMA Japan reports a Magnitude of (only) M4.9 at a depth of 80 km. Harmless but well felt by the population. The max. intensity was 4 JM. ER considers 5+ as a potentially dangerous level.
Based on the number of people visiting our site from Japan and compared to other events during the last couple of weeks, people were very anxious to see where the epicenter was. Update 09:39 UTC : This earthquake proves that earthquakes also happen almost below the city itself and that Tokyo citizens will not always be warned of an upcoming wave as the P and S waves are arriving at almost the same moment.
Update 16:13 UTC : The data below is a little confusing for some people as USGS indicates “only” a max. MMI V (moderate shaking) and JMA a 5+ (equivalent of MMI VII). JMA Japan is a highly specialized seismological agency and we always tend to believe the local agencies. The testimony below shows that JMA Japan is right. We do not expect a lot more Experience reports as there are very few English understanding people living in these areas. Our Experience reports in Japan are mostly coming from Expats working in the country.
Intensity map, courtesy JMA Japan (dark orange = strongest shaking)
Update 15:56 UTC : An ER reader living in Misawa, approx. 75 km from the epicenter wrote a few moments ago :
Woke me up, I think midnight. I was so scared that I jumped up too quickly and ended up with a cramp in my leg. It was long too and was getting stronger so husband and I stood under doorway of lodging until subsided a little then went outside. She described the shaking as a strong shaking. Misawa is labeled as a JMA 4 intensity. Some people must have felt it a lot stronger (see above)
Update 15:52 UTC : Based on JMA data (Japan Seismological Service), the max. shaking will be 5+ at Tohoku-machi Kamikita-minami*. 5+ is considered by Earthquake-Report.com as “moderately dangerous”. JMA uses a 0 to 7 scale.
Based on theoretical data from USGS, the max. shaking will be moderate and felt by 76,000 people.
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M6.0 (JMA Japan)
UTC Time : Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 15:02:25 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 12:02:25 AM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 50 km (JMA Japan)
Geo-location(s) :
Approx. 60 km from Mutsu, Honshu, Japan
107 km (66 miles) NNE of Hachinohe, Honshu, Japan
119 km (73 miles) ESE of Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
127 km (78 miles) ENE of Aomori, Honshu, Japan
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Update 18:05 UTC : Minor damage
4 schools in Noheji have broken windows. Other damage has been reported in the museum of Noheji (damage to the ceiling). We will keep you updated if new reports are published.
Update 16:57 UTC : FDMA Japan has issued a new report on 16:40 UTC – good news, still no sign of any damage. ER expects that the highest intensity area will probably remain damage free.
Update 16:44 UTC : FDMA Japan (Fire brigade who also works as SAR and Emergency forces during earthquake are currently making an assessment of the situation. The heaviest shaking is in the Aomori prefecture. Until now no damage reported as yet. The report has been issued 1 hour ago.
Purple line is subduction fault line – seismic hazard map courtesy USGS
Update 16:30 UTC : We have noticed and reported a very curious swarm of earthquakes more to the south. A lot of these earthquakes had the same Magnitude than this one but due to the distance from the coast (150 to 200 km) we have only described the phenomenon in our daily lists. This earthquake as well as all the other earlier ones and the great March 11 destructive one in 2011 are triggered by the same fault. The purple line at right is the subduction fault line where the pacific plate subducts the Eurasian plate. The depth today is a very good illustration of this subducting process. The pacific heavier plate glides below the Eurasian plate and hangs frequently. When the pressure mounts, it suddenly breaks and generates an earthquake. The friction points are mostly seen in a rather wide area (a few hundred km’s) along the subduction faults.
Update 16:20 UTC : The earthquake occurred just after midnight and a lot of people must have been already sleeping. Hard to get up this way.
Update 16:20 UTC : There are NO tsunami advisories in effect. In general earthquakes below M7 generate rarely stronger waves
Very strong coastal earthquake in Japan (NE Honshu)
Last update: March 27, 2012 at 12:08 pm by By Ashish Khanal
M 6.0 2012/03/27 11:00 Depth 10.0 km NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
08:00:43 PM at epicenter – Epicenter location see below in list
86 km (53 miles) E (79°) from Morioka, Honshu, Japan Very strong earthquake approx. 20 km out of the Morioka coast.
JMA Japan reports a Magnitude of 6.4 at a depth of 10 km.
JMA Japan reports a max. intensity of 5- at Miyako-shi Moichi, Yamada-machi Hachimancho, Noda-mura Noda, Takizawa-mura Ukai, Hanamaki-shi Towacho
Earthquake-Report.com considers a 5+ as a minimum value to be damaging. NO tsunami advisories or warnings are in effect Update 12:06 UTC : The mainshock was followed 2 minutes later by a moderate M 5.1 aftershock.
February 29, 2012 – strong coastal earthquake close to Tokyo
Last update: February 29, 2012 at 2:57 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Earthquake intensity image courtesy JMA Japan
M 5.8 2012/02/29 14:32 Depth 20.0 km JAPAN
local time 23:32 – Epicenter location see below in list
70 km SE Choshi (pop 75,650) and 108 km SE Narita (pop 100,641) (Narita is one of the Tokyo airports)
Earlier report we wrote when we found out the earthquake occurred Preliminary data are talking about a strong earthquake 20 km out in the sea near Tokyo
We are estimating that the epicenter is about 50 km out in the sea. Certainly NOT strong enough to generate a tsunami.
JMA Japan reports a magnitude of 5.8 at a depth of 20 km. Max. registered intensity by JMA : 4 at Isumi-shi Misakicho-choja* – Earthquake-Report.com considers 5+ as dangerous for eventual damage
Conclusion Earthquake-Report.com : NOT dangerous for damage or injuries
Earthquake overview : At 21:01 (09:01 PM) a strpng shallow earthquake occurred close to the coast of Sado Island, Honshu, Japan
Coastal village on Sado Island close to the epicenter – courtesy KatyGoat
Update 14:03 UTC
Fire Department of Japan has reported in his third report that as far as 2 hours after the earthquake, no damage has been detected in the villages or cities and that the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station has not been damaged neither.
Update 13:44 UTC
The strongest earthquake we could trace at Sado Island was a M 6.6 earthquake which occurred at December 9, 1802.
Update 13:34 UTC
Japan seismological agency, JMA is reporting a 5+ intensity, considered by Earthquake-report.com as moderately dangerous for damage. 5+ Sado-shi Aikawa-sanchome and Sado-shi Kawaharada-hommachi* 5- Sado-shi Ogimachi*, Sado-shi Hamochi-hongo* and Sado-shi Akadomari* 4 Sado-shi Iwayaguchi*, Sado-shi Ryotsu-minato*, Sado-shi Matsugasaki*, Sado-shi Chigusa*, Sado-shi Niibo-uryuya*, Sado-shi Mano-shimmachi*, Sado-shi Ryotsu-shisho* and Sado-shi Aikawa-sakaemachi*
Japan seismological intensity values are scaled from 0 to 7. 5+ JMA can be compared with 7 MMI (very strong shaking).
Sado Island earthquake – Intensity map courtesy JMA Japan
Update 13:32 UTC
Sado Province was a province of Japan until 1871; since then, it has been a part of Niigata Prefecture. It was sometimes called Sashū or Toshū. It lies on the eponymous Sado Island, off the coast of Niigata Prefecture (or in the past, Echigo Province).
Sado was famous for the silver and gold mined on the island. In the Kamakura Period, the province was granted to the Honma clan from Honshū, and they continued to dominate Sado until 1589, when Uesugi Kagekatsu of Echigo Province took over the island. The Tokugawa shoguns later made Sado a personal fief after Sekigahara, and assumed direct control of its mines.
Since 2004 Sado city has comprised the entire island.
Its rich history and relaxed rural atmosphere make Sado one of the major tourist destinations in Niigata Prefecture. The island has several temples and historical ruins, and offers possibilities for various outdoor activities, as well as fresh local food.
Sado is famous as the major breeding area for the Japanese Crested Ibis. The last known Japan-born Japanese Crested Ibis died in captivity in 2003 on the island. Currently, birds from China are being bred in a captive program in a facility in Niibo area. The Ibis, Toki in Japanese, is a major symbol of the Island and can be found on several tourist items. There are plans to release Ibis in the wild at the end of 2008. (source Wikipedia)
Update 13:31 UTC
The Island area does not seem to be particularly dangerous, although moderate earthquakes are fairly common.
The strong shallow and thus moderately dangerous earthquake occurred almost below Sado Island, an island approx. 50 km from the western Honshu coast.
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 5.7
UTC Time : Wednesday, February 08, 2012 at 12:01:37 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Wednesday, February 08, 2012 at 09:01:37 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 10 km
Geo-location(s) :
10 km from Sawazakihana Light (Sado Island)
38 km SW Ryotsu (pop 16,359)
72 km NW Nagaoka (pop 195,318)
Purple line is subduction fault line – seismic hazard map courtesy USGS
