Major magnitude 6.9 earthquake - 120 km east of Miyako, Iwate, Japan, on Sunday, October 29, 1989 at 05:25 GMT
Quake Data | Interactive map | User Reports | Aftershocks | Earlier quakes here | Quakes in Japan | Iwate | Aomori | Hokkaido | Tokyo


Major magnitude 6.9 earthquake at 10 km depth
1 Jan 00:00 UTC: First to report: USGS after 30 seconds.
Magnitude: 6.9
Depth: 9.6 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 39.571°N / 143.333°E

Antipode: 39.571°S / 36.667°W
Nearest volcano: Nanashigure (198 km / 123 mi)
Nearby towns and cities:
119 km (74 mi) E of Yamada (Shimohei-gun) (pop: 20,100) --> See nearby quakes!
120 km (74 mi) E of Miyako (pop: 51,700) --> See nearby quakes!
130 km (81 mi) ENE of Kamaishi (pop: 43,100) --> See nearby quakes!
150 km (93 mi) ENE of Ofunato (pop: 35,400) --> See nearby quakes!
187 km (116 mi) ESE of Hachinohe (pop: 239,000) --> See nearby quakes!
188 km (117 mi) E of Morioka (pop: 295,200) --> See nearby quakes!
191 km (119 mi) E of Hanamaki (pop: 73,100) --> See nearby quakes!
193 km (120 mi) E of Kitakami (pop: 93,900) --> See nearby quakes!
423 km (263 mi) SSE of Sapporo (pop: 1,883,000) --> See nearby quakes!
538 km (334 mi) NE of Tokyo (pop: 8,336,600) --> See nearby quakes!
Primary data source: USGS (United States Geological Survey)
Estimated released energy: 1.4 x 1015 joules (392 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 3.4 x 105 tons of TNT or 21.1 atomic bombs!) | about seismic energy
Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies
Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
Mag. | Depth | Location | Source |
6.9 | 9.6 km | off the east coast of Honshu, Japan | USGS |
User reports for this quake
User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
Aftershocks
[More info]
Recorded aftershocks, latest first (99 quakes)
Date and time![]() | Mag Depth | Location | Details |
Mar 21, 1990 10:14 32 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 137 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Mar 14, 1990 18:43 32 years ago | 4.6 33 km | 76 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Feb 13, 1990 17:07 32 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 94 km E of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Feb 9, 1990 16:24 32 years ago | 4.6 23 km | 207 km E of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Jan 29, 1990 10:37 32 years ago | 4.8 48 km | 78 km SE of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Jan 20, 1990 02:55 32 years ago | 5.7 48 km | 82 km SE of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Jan 10, 1990 03:11 32 years ago | 5.8 37 km | 117 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Jan 10, 1990 03:09 32 years ago | 5.7 34 km | 115 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 22, 1989 07:04 32 years ago | 4.7 33 km | 92 km E of Ishinomaki, Honshu-miyagi-ken, Japan | More |
Dec 20, 1989 09:04 32 years ago | 4.7 59 km | 65 km NE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 17, 1989 08:11 32 years ago | 5.2 20 km | 120 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 16, 1989 23:25 32 years ago | 5.7 22 km | 122 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 16, 1989 14:16 32 years ago | 4.6 33 km | 142 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 16, 1989 12:46 32 years ago | 4.9 27 km | 133 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 4, 1989 09:18 32 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 99 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 2, 1989 16:05 32 years ago | 4.9 27 km | 106 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 2, 1989 13:36 32 years ago | 4.5 20 km | 117 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 2, 1989 12:50 32 years ago | 4.6 23 km | 122 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 2, 1989 12:23 32 years ago | 4.0 33 km | 142 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 2, 1989 12:20 32 years ago | 5.4 33 km | 78 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 2, 1989 12:19 32 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 118 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Dec 2, 1989 12:15 32 years ago | 5.6 35 km | 99 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 29, 1989 20:21 32 years ago | 4.5 33 km | 128 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 26, 1989 08:43 32 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 137 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 23, 1989 15:49 33 years ago | 5.2 34 km | 103 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 22, 1989 01:40 33 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 188 km E of Ishinomaki, Honshu-miyagi-ken, Japan | More |
Nov 21, 1989 10:13 33 years ago | 4.9 25 km | 103 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 21, 1989 04:47 33 years ago | 4.9 49 km | 56 km NE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 18, 1989 04:50 33 years ago | 4.6 29 km | 200 km E of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Nov 17, 1989 11:57 33 years ago | 4.3 26 km | 142 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 17, 1989 08:00 33 years ago | 4.9 17 km | 110 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 15, 1989 18:31 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 96 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 14, 1989 05:49 33 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 154 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 12, 1989 03:31 33 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 141 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 11, 1989 04:13 33 years ago | 4.5 35 km | 146 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 7, 1989 15:13 33 years ago | 4.7 33 km | 174 km E of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Nov 7, 1989 15:00 33 years ago | 4.6 33 km | 140 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 7, 1989 03:27 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 146 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 7, 1989 00:30 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 126 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 6, 1989 22:04 33 years ago | 4.7 33 km | 134 km E of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Nov 6, 1989 08:56 33 years ago | 5.5 49 km | 82 km SE of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Nov 6, 1989 06:03 33 years ago | 4.8 71 km | Kesen-gun, 12 km NW of Ofunato, Ōfunato-shi, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 5, 1989 19:24 33 years ago | 3.7 28 km | 162 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 5, 1989 19:06 33 years ago | 4.7 29 km | 153 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 5, 1989 18:00 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 132 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 5, 1989 15:56 33 years ago | 5.2 29 km | 146 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 5, 1989 15:08 33 years ago | 5.2 43 km | 78 km NE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 5, 1989 13:42 33 years ago | 5.2 31 km | 143 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 5, 1989 01:25 33 years ago | 4.0 37 km | 141 km SE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 4, 1989 21:56 33 years ago | 5.3 21 km | 126 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 4, 1989 20:51 33 years ago | 5.5 27 km | 148 km E of Kamaishi, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 4, 1989 20:12 33 years ago | 5.9 30 km | 135 km SE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 4, 1989 02:49 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 115 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 3, 1989 22:45 33 years ago | 4.3 31 km | 132 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 3, 1989 08:15 33 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 107 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 3, 1989 05:49 33 years ago | 5.2 25 km | 109 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 22:35 33 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 150 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 19:42 33 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 147 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 16:17 33 years ago | 3.8 33 km | 112 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 15:55 33 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 181 km E of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 13:42 33 years ago | 5.5 28 km | 119 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 11:59 33 years ago | 5.5 29 km | 151 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 11:51 33 years ago | 5.3 27 km | 99 km E of Yamada, Shimohei-gun, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 11:30 33 years ago | 4.0 33 km | 173 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 10:37 33 years ago | 4.0 33 km | 178 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 10:03 33 years ago | 4.7 33 km | 103 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 09:34 33 years ago | 4.9 34 km | 107 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 08:15 33 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 203 km E of Ishinomaki, Honshu-miyagi-ken, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 07:09 33 years ago | 3.8 33 km | 60 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 04:01 33 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 130 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 02:22 33 years ago | 4.6 33 km | 133 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 01:42 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 135 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 01:13 33 years ago | 4.5 30 km | 123 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 2, 1989 01:09 33 years ago | 4.7 27 km | 138 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 23:52 33 years ago | 3.8 33 km | 193 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 23:37 33 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 263 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 23:20 33 years ago | 4.2 29 km | 143 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 23:05 33 years ago | 5.5 39 km | 98 km E of Kamaishi, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 23:04 33 years ago | 4.3 31 km | 103 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 22:34 33 years ago | 4.4 33 km | 131 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 22:09 33 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 122 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 21:53 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 92 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 21:40 33 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 121 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 20:20 33 years ago | 5.3 57 km | 77 km NE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 19:52 33 years ago | 5.1 30 km | 144 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 19:29 33 years ago | 4.5 33 km | 142 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 18:49 33 years ago | 4.5 33 km | 68 km NE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 18:36 33 years ago | 6.0 30 km | 102 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 18:25 33 years ago | 7.4 29 km | 73 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Nov 1, 1989 12:24 33 years ago | 5.2 33 km | 115 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 31, 1989 05:07 33 years ago | 4.7 33 km | 113 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 30, 1989 14:20 33 years ago | 4.1 10 km | 203 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 29, 1989 23:18 33 years ago | 5.3 10 km | 109 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 29, 1989 16:07 33 years ago | 4.1 10 km | 147 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 29, 1989 15:53 33 years ago | 5.5 10 km | 127 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 29, 1989 12:45 33 years ago | 4.4 10 km | 119 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 29, 1989 10:51 33 years ago | 5.5 18 km | 127 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 29, 1989 06:16 33 years ago | 4.1 10 km | 82 km NE of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Oct 29, 1989 05:37 33 years ago | 5.0 10 km | 126 km E of Miyako, Iwate, Japan | More |
Show all
Earlier earthquakes in the same area
Click here to search our database for earlier earthquakes in the same area since 1900!