Japan earthquakes

M7.3 earthquake 206 km SSE of Wada, Japan

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck 206 km SSE of Wada, Japan on Mon, Dec 4, 1972, 7:16 PM JST (10:16 UTC), 26 km (16 mi) below the surface.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude: 7.3 (mw), major
Local time: Mon, Dec 4, 1972, 7:16 PM JST
UTC: 1972-12-04 10:16:09 UTC
Depth: 25.9 km (16.1 mi), shallow
Epicenter: 33.313° N, 140.854° E
Region: Japan
Strongest shaking: VI, strong shaking
Tsunami flag: No
Status: Reviewed by a seismologist

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated: VI, strong shaking
Peak ground acceleration: 14.1% of gravity
Peak ground velocity: 2.5 cm/s
Map: Automatic

USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter — Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude uncertainty: ±0.42
Depth from: From location

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 23 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

After

Earthquakes today Japan earthquakes Live radar here

Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event iscgem765618 (also filed as atlas19721204101613). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 6:57 AM UTC.