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Strong and shallow M6.4 earthquake hits Kyushu, Japan

strong-and-shallow-m6-4-earthquake-hits-kyushu-japan

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the JMA as M6.4 hit Kyushu, Japan at 12:26 UTC on April 14, 2016 (21:26 local time). The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). USGS is reporting M6.2 at the same depth. EMSC is reporting M6.1 at a depth of 15 km (9.3 miles).

According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 7 km (4.3 miles) SW of Ueki, 9 km (5.6 miles) SE of Tamana, 12 (7.5 miles) WNW of Kumamoto-shi and 18 km(11.2 miles) N of Uto, Japan.

According to JMA, the quake had seismic intensity of 7 (Shindo 7), the highest on their scale. 

There are about 8 214 032  living within 100 km (62 miles).

USGS issued a yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible.

Red alert was issued for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Japan. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response.

JMA is registering strong aftershocks in the region. Another M6.4 at a depth of 10 km hit at 15:03 UTC. This quake had seismic intensity of 6+.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist. 

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Selected cities exposed

From GeoNames Database of Cities with 1,000 or more residents (k = x1 000)

The region didn't experience earthquake this strong in a couple of years.

Updates

See this video taken by a tower cam located in Kumamoto, Western Japan during the quake.

Another video:

YouTube video

According to NHK World, several people are reportedly trapped under collapsed houses with several traffic lights down after the earthquake. There is also a fire in Mashiki Town near the quake.

Image credit: NHK World

The Genkai nuclear plant in Saga Prefecture has been suspended.

16:22 UTC: 

Reports received by 16:22 say at least 3 people have been killed. More than 100 have been injured. (ER)

16:53 UTC:

USGS registered 10 aftershocks by 16:53 UTC:

Image credit: USGS

  1. 4.9Kyushu, Japan2016-04-14 16:53:02 UTC10.0 km
  2. 4.55km SSW of Kumamoto-shi, Japan2016-04-14 15:50:31 UTC10.0 km
  3. 4.714km SSE of Kumamoto-shi, Japan2016-04-14 15:34:18 UTC10.0 km
  4. 5.36km S of Kumamoto-shi, Japan2016-04-14 15:06:22 UTC10.0 km
  5. 6.05km E of Uto, Japan2016-04-14 15:03:47 UTC10.0 km
  6. 4.91km ESE of Kumamoto-shi, Japan2016-04-14 14:43:41 UTC10.0 km
  7. 4.84km E of Uto, Japan2016-04-14 13:38:43 UTC10.0 km
  8. 4.81km W of Uto, Japan2016-04-14 13:22:19 UTC10.0 km
  9. 5.48km E of Kumamoto-shi, Japan2016-04-14 13:07:35 UTC10.0 km
  10. 4.88km SSW of Matsubase, Japan2016-04-14 12:42:25 UTC10.0 km
  11. 6.27km SW of Ueki, Japan2016-04-14 12:26:36 UTC10.0 km
Data source: USGS (Updated at 17:52 UTC on April 14, 2016)

 

JMA registered 13 aftershocks:

Issued at   Observed at   Magnitude
             
02:17 JST 15 Apr 2016       02:14 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.2
01:55 JST 15 Apr 2016       01:53 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.8
01:23 JST 15 Apr 2016       01:21 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.0
00:52 JST 15 Apr 2016       00:50 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.2
00:36 JST 15 Apr 2016       00:34 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.5
00:07 JST 15 Apr 2016       00:03 JST 15 Apr 2016   M6.4
23:46 JST 14 Apr 2016       23:43 JST 14 Apr 2016   M5.0
23:31 JST 14 Apr 2016       23:28 JST 14 Apr 2016   M4.4
23:03 JST 14 Apr 2016       23:00 JST 14 Apr 2016   M3.3
22:42 JST 14 Apr 2016       22:38 JST 14 Apr 2016   M5.0
22:25 JST 14 Apr 2016       22:22 JST 14 Apr 2016   M4.6
22:11 JST 14 Apr 2016       22:07 JST 14 Apr 2016   M5.7
21:56 JST 14 Apr 2016       21:53 JST 14 Apr 2016   M4.0
21:31 JST 14 Apr 2016       21:26 JST 14 Apr 2016        M6.4

23:17 UTC:

At least nine people died when an earthquake struck Japan late Thursday, the Kumamoto Prefecture disaster management office said.

Friday, April 15 @ 07:16 UTC

At least 9 people have died, ~900 have been treated in hospitals, more than 13 000 are in evacuation centers, according to officials. 

Morning update on Japan quake by NHK Meteorologist Jonathan Oh: 

YouTube video

Aftershocks recorded by JMA (15:30 JST is 06:30 UTC, +9 hrs):

Issued at      Observed at      Magnitude
         
15:30 JST 15 Apr 2016   15:27 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.1
13:52 JST 15 Apr 2016   13:50 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.0
12:48 JST 15 Apr 2016   12:46 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.5
09:55 JST 15 Apr 2016   09:53 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.9
09:05 JST 15 Apr 2016   09:02 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.8
07:49 JST 15 Apr 2016   07:46 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.4
07:32 JST 15 Apr 2016   07:30 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.2
07:22 JST 15 Apr 2016   07:20 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.5
06:27 JST 15 Apr 2016   06:24 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.0
05:34 JST 15 Apr 2016   05:32 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.8
05:13 JST 15 Apr 2016   05:10 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.6
05:04 JST 15 Apr 2016   05:01 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.5
04:22 JST 15 Apr 2016   04:19 JST 15 Apr 2016   M3.1
03:40 JST 15 Apr 2016   03:37 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.1
02:17 JST 15 Apr 2016   02:14 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.2
01:55 JST 15 Apr 2016   01:53 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.8
01:23 JST 15 Apr 2016   01:21 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.0
00:52 JST 15 Apr 2016   00:50 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.2
00:36 JST 15 Apr 2016   00:34 JST 15 Apr 2016   M4.5
00:07 JST 15 Apr 2016   00:03 JST 15 Apr 2016   M6.4
23:46 JST 14 Apr 2016   23:43 JST 14 Apr 2016   M5.0
23:31 JST 14 Apr 2016   23:28 JST 14 Apr 2016   M4.4
23:03 JST 14 Apr 2016   23:00 JST 14 Apr 2016   M3.3
22:42 JST 14 Apr 2016   22:38 JST 14 Apr 2016   M5.0
22:25 JST 14 Apr 2016   22:22 JST 14 Apr 2016   M4.6
22:11 JST 14 Apr 2016   22:07 JST 14 Apr 2016   M5.7
21:56 JST 14 Apr 2016   21:53 JST 14 Apr 2016   M4.0
21:31 JST 14 Apr 2016   21:26 JST 14 Apr 2016   M6.4

Seismotectonics of the Philippine Sea and Vicinity

The Philippine Sea plate is bordered by the larger Pacific and Eurasia plates and the smaller Sunda plate. The Philippine Sea plate is unusual in that its borders are nearly all zones of plate convergence. The Pacific plate is subducted into the mantle, south of Japan, beneath the Izu-Bonin and Mariana island arcs, which extend more than 3,000 km along the eastern margin of the Philippine Sea plate. This subduction zone is characterized by rapid plate convergence and high-level seismicity extending to depths of over 600 km. In spite of this extensive zone of plate convergence, the plate interface has been associated with few great (M>8.0) ‘megathrust’ earthquakes. This low seismic energy release is thought to result from weak coupling along the plate interface (Scholz and Campos, 1995). These convergent plate margins are also associated with unusual zones of back-arc extension (along with resulting seismic activity) that decouple the volcanic island arcs from the remainder of the Philippine Sea Plate (Karig et al., 1978; Klaus et al., 1992).

South of the Mariana arc, the Pacific plate is subducted beneath the Yap Islands along the Yap trench. The long zone of Pacific plate subduction at the eastern margin of the Philippine Sea Plate is responsible for the generation of the deep Izu-Bonin, Mariana, and Yap trenches as well as parallel chains of islands and volcanoes, typical of circum-pacific island arcs. Similarly, the northwestern margin of the Philippine Sea plate is subducting beneath the Eurasia plate along a convergent zone, extending from southern Honshu to the northeastern coast of Taiwan, manifested by the Ryukyu Islands and the Nansei-Shoto (Ryukyu) trench. The Ryukyu Subduction Zone is associated with a similar zone of back-arc extension, the Okinawa Trough. At Taiwan, the plate boundary is characterized by a zone of arc-continent collision, whereby the northern end of the Luzon island arc is colliding with the buoyant crust of the Eurasia continental margin offshore China.

Along its western margin, the Philippine Sea plate is associated with a zone of oblique convergence with the Sunda Plate. This highly active convergent plate boundary extends along both sides the Philippine Islands, from Luzon in the north to the Celebes Islands in the south. The tectonic setting of the Philippines is unusual in several respects: it is characterized by opposite-facing subduction systems on its east and west sides; the archipelago is cut by a major transform fault, the Philippine Fault; and the arc complex itself is marked by active volcanism, faulting, and high seismic activity. Subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate occurs at the eastern margin of the archipelago along the Philippine Trench and its northern extension, the East Luzon Trough. The East Luzon Trough is thought to be an unusual example of a subduction zone in the process of formation, as the Philippine Trench system gradually extends northward (Hamburger et al., 1983). On the west side of Luzon, the Sunda Plate subducts eastward along a series of trenches, including the Manila Trench in the north, the smaller less well-developed Negros Trench in the central Philippines, and the Sulu and Cotabato trenches in the south (Cardwell et al., 1980). At its northern and southern terminations, subduction at the Manila Trench is interrupted by arc-continent collision, between the northern Philippine arc and the Eurasian continental margin at Taiwan and between the Sulu-Borneo Block and Luzon at the island of Mindoro. The Philippine fault, which extends over 1,200 km within the Philippine arc, is seismically active. The fault has been associated with major historical earthquakes, including the destructive M7.6 Luzon earthquake of 1990 (Yoshida and Abe, 1992). A number of other active intra-arc fault systems are associated with high seismic activity, including the Cotabato Fault and the Verde Passage-Sibuyan Sea Fault (Galgana et al., 2007).

Relative plate motion vectors near the Philippines (about 80 mm/yr) is oblique to the plate boundary along the two plate margins of central Luzon, where it is partitioned into orthogonal plate convergence along the trenches and nearly pure translational motion along the Philippine Fault (Barrier et al., 1991). Profiles B and C reveal evidence of opposing inclined seismic zones at intermediate depths (roughly 70-300 km) and complex tectonics at the surface along the Philippine Fault.

Several relevant tectonic elements, plate boundaries and active volcanoes, provide a context for the seismicity presented on the main map. The plate boundaries are most accurate along the axis of the trenches and more diffuse or speculative in the South China Sea and Lesser Sunda Islands. The active volcanic arcs (Siebert and Simkin, 2002) follow the Izu, Volcano, Mariana, and Ryukyu island chains and the main Philippine islands parallel to the Manila, Negros, Cotabato, and Philippine trenches.

Seismic activity along the boundaries of the Philippine Sea Plate (Allen et al., 2009) has produced 7 great (M>8.0) earthquakes and 250 large (M>7) events. Among the most destructive events were the 1923 Kanto, the 1948 Fukui and the 1995 Kobe (Japan) earthquakes (99,000, 5,100, and 6,400 casualties, respectively), the 1935 and the 1999 Chi-Chi (Taiwan) earthquakes (3,300 and 2,500 casualties, respectively), and the 1976 M7.6 Moro Gulf and 1990 M7.6 Luzon (Philippines) earthquakes (7,100 and 2,400 casualties, respectively). There have also been a number of tsunami-generating events in the region, including the Moro Gulf earthquake, whose tsunami resulted in more than 5000 deaths. (USGS) More information on regional seismicity and tectonics

Featured image credit: USGS

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