Earthquake in the Eastern Kanagawa Prefecture on February 5



On February 5, 2016 at 07:41 (JST), there was a M4.6 earthquake (maximum seismic intensity 4) at a depth of 26 km in the eastern Kanagawa prefecture. The focal mechanism had a compression axis in an NW-SE direction. This event occurred near the boundary between the Philippine Sea and the continental plates.
For the seismic activity since October 1997, in the vicinity of the recent event (Area b), there have sometimes been earthquakes of M4.0 or over. On August 8, 2008, there was a M4.6 earthquake (maximum seismic intensity 4) at a depth of 30 km almost the same epicenter of this event.
For the seismic activity since January 1923, in the area around the recent event (Area c), there was a M7.9 earthquake (the Kanto earthquake) on September 1, 1923. This event caused damage with over 105,000 fatalities and lost people, over 109,000 totally collapsed houses and over 212,000 burnt houses (Chronological Scientific Tables). After this earthquake there had been earthquakes of M6.0 or over until early 1930s, but no such earthquake has ever occurred afterwards.


Japan Meteorological Agency
[Evaluation of Seismic Activities for February 2016 (March 9, 2016)]