2003 Hokkaidō earthquake
| Date | 04:50:06, 26 September 2003 (+09:00) |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 8.3 Mw |
| Depth | 27 km (17 mi) |
| Epicenter | 41°47′N 143°52′E / 41.78°N 143.86°ECoordinates: 41°47′N 143°52′E / 41.78°N 143.86°E |
| Type | Megathrust |
| Areas affected | Japan |
| Total damage | ¥213 billion (US$1.9 billion) (Damage to fishing ports, agriculture, and infrastructure) |
| Max. intensity | Lower 6 JMA |
| Tsunami | Yes (4.0 m) |
| Landslides | Yes |
| Aftershocks | 65+ (max 7.4 Mw) |
| Casualties | 849 injured, 2 missing |
The 2003 Hokkaidō earthquake, scientifically named the 2003 Tokachi-Oki earthquake (十勝沖地震 2003 Tokachi-Oki Jishin?), occurred off the coast of Hokkaidō, Japan on 26 September at 04:50 local time (19:50 UTC 25 September). At a focal depth of 27 km (17 mi), this great undersea earthquake measured 8.3 on the moment magnitude scale, making it the most powerful earthquake of 2003, as well as one of the most intense earthquakes to hit Japan since modern record-keeping began in 1900.
The Hokkaido earthquake caused extensive damage, destroying roads all around Hokkaidō, and triggered power outages and extensive landslides. Over 800 people were injured. The earthquake also caused a tsunami reaching 4 meters in height. The earthquake's presence was felt throughout Japan, stretching all the way to Honshu and Tokyo.
The location and moment tensor solution of this earthquake are consistent with it being a result of thrust faulting between the North American Plate and the subducting Pacific Plate. In addition to experiencing large thrust earthquakes that originate on the interface between the plates, eastern Hokkaidō experiences great earthquakes that originate from the interior of the subducted Pacific plate.
The region has been rocked by a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami with an estimated magnitude of 9 in 1667, a magnitude 8.2 event in 1952, a 1968 quake measuring 8.3 Mw, and one in 2008 measuring 7.1, all bearing the name Tokachi-Oki, and a 1973 quake to the immediate north along the Kuril Trench plate boundary called the 1973 Nemuro-Oki earthquake.
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