Japan earthquakes

M5.7 earthquake 18 km S of Heda, Japan

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck 18 km S of Heda, Japan on Sun, Jan 15, 1978, 7:31 AM JST (22:31 UTC), 10 km (6 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: 5.7 (ms), moderate
Local time: Sun, Jan 15, 1978, 7:31 AM JST
UTC: 1978-01-14 22:31:46 UTC
Depth: 10.0 km (6.2 mi), shallow
Epicenter: 34.797° N, 138.803° E
Region: Japan
Strongest shaking: VII, very 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: VII, very strong shaking
Peak ground acceleration: 27.3% of gravity
Peak ground velocity: 3.1 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.

Stations used: 161

Nearest places

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

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 4 in the 60 days after this one and 7 in the 30 days before it.

After

Before

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp0000sh4 (also filed as gcmtb011478e, gcmt19780114223146, atlas19780114223146, iscgem687754). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 8:01 AM UTC.