Magnitude 6.3 Quake Strikes Hokkaido Japan

Strong earthquake strikes Hokkaido, Japan

The earthquake measuring 6.3 MW in line with FEWW forecast

Earthquake Location. 10-degree Map Centered at 40°N,145°E – USGS

Earthquake details:

• Magnitude 6.3
• Date-Time: Friday, June 05, 2009 at 03:30:34 UTC [Friday, June 05, 2009 at 12:30:34 PM at epicenter]
• Location:  41.858°N, 143.399°E
• Depth 41.6 km (25.9 miles)
• Region:  HOKKAIDO ISLAND, JAPAN
• Distances
  • 150 km (90 miles) SW of Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
  • 215 km (135 miles) SE of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
  • 220 km (135 miles) NE of Hachinohe, Honshu, Japan
  • 755 km (470 miles) NNE of TOKYO, Japan
• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 5.3 km (3.3 miles); depth +/- 7.1 km (4.4 miles)
• Parameters: NST=185, Nph=185, Dmin=26.6 km, Rmss=0.81 sec, Gp= 36°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=7
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2009hmai

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake and tsunami occurred in the Japan region 92 km northwest of the location of this earthquake on March 21, 1982 (UTC), with estimated population exposures of 48,000 at intensity VIII and 170,000 at intensity VII, with no reported fatalities. On July 12, 1993 (UTC), a magnitude 7.7 earthquake and tsunami occurred near the Hokkaido Nansei-Oki, Japan, region 360 km west of the location of this earthquake, with estimated population exposures of 4,000 at intensity VIII and 84,000 at intensity VII, resulting in an estimated 230 fatalities. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused, landslides and fires that may have contributed to losses. USGS.

NO tsunami warning has been issued.

Related Links:

• Earthquake Forecast 2009
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan

• FEWW Earthquakes [Links to articles]