counter
Topics 2004 Mid Niigata Earthquake ✏ Oct 23, 2004 publication
Summary Background Maps Mechanisms Waveforms Related links Japanese

█ Summary

   A sequence of powerful earthquakes struck Mid Niigata Prefecture, central Japan. The hypocenter of the mainshock is located at 37.3 N; 138.8E with depth of 13 km and magnitude of 6.8 determined by Japan Meteorological Agency occurred at 5:56 PM JST on October 23, 2004. The intensity is registered 6+ on the 7-grade Japanese intensity scale. Many aftershocks including some M6 class events have been following.

   Focal mechanisms of those major earthquakes are the reverse fault type with the compression axis oriented to NW/SE that is consistent to the historical solutions of major earthquakes in this area. Aftershocks are distributed along the northeast and southwest direction with a length of about 30km. The maximum acceleration of 1500 gal is recorded at station Ojiya that is the nearest K-NET site from the hypocenter. The recorded maximum acceleration for this earthquake is much greater than that for the 1995 Kobe earthquake.


Oct 27:
An aftershock with magnitude of 6.1 shook the Mid Niigata area at 10:40AM JST on October 27,2004. The focal mechanism of the aftershock is the reverse fault type with the compression axis oriented to NW/SE that is consistent to the solutions of the main shock. The hypocenter is located to the east of the aftershock area.
A hypo map is here.


Nov 8:
An aftershock with JMA magnitude of 5.9 occurred at 11:15AM JST on November 08,2004. The focal mechanism of the aftershock is the reverse fault type with the compression axis oriented to NW/SE that is consistent to the solutions of the main shock and other major aftershocks. The hypocenter is located to the north of the aftershock area. The M5.9 aftershock was followed by numerous aftershocks.
A hypo map is here.


Epicentral distribution of major earthquakes in and around mid-Niigata prefecture region.




Policies  |  ▶How to use the data  |  ▶Contact us  |  ▶Web site for mobile phones (in Japanese)
We, NIED, do not deliver any e-mails of immediate seismic information obtained by the AQUA system.
In addition, please understand that we prohibit the redistribution of the seismic data. For more information, please read How to use the Hi-net data and FAQ.
High Sensitivity Seismograph Network Laboratory, Center for Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcano Observation Research,
National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience.
3-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 305-0006, JAPAN
Copyright © National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience, All rights Reserved.