Last updated on May 17, 2022
The contents of this website are English translation of the Japanese website of “2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes and related information“, the Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), AIST.
A moderate earthquake of M6.5 occurred in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, southwestern Japan, at 21:26 JST on April 14, 2016. It was generated on a right-lateral strike-slip fault, northern part of the Hinagu fault zone. Depth of the epicenter was shallow (about 11 km in depth; JMA), and very strong ground motion was recorded near the source fault. A larger earthquake of M7.3 occurred at 1:25 JST on April 16, 2022 on the Futagawa fault zone, which is the northern neighbor of the Hinagu fault zone.
The Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) set up the Emergency Survey Headquarters on April 15 to conduct systematic responses.
Influence of the Kumamoto Earthquake on groundwater resources
Report 3 (April 22, 2022): Emergency Survey Report
Report 1 (April 15, 2022): Aftershock distribution and geology in this area
Related websites
- Active faults in Kyushu region (GeoMapNavi)
- 1:200k Geological Map of Kumamoto and Yatsushiro and part of Nomozaki (GeoMapNavi)
- Geological Map of Aso Volcano (Active Volcanoes of Japan)
- Geological Map of Aso Volcano (GeoMapNavi)
- Nakadake, Aso Volcano Eruption Information (In Japanese)
- Aso Volcano (Volcanoes of Japan)
- July 2012 surface landslides in Aso Caldera area due to heavy rain in northern Kyushu (in Japanese)
Update information
- May 17, 2016: Influence of the Kumamoto Earthquake on groundwater resources is released.
- April 22, 2016: 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Report 3 is released.
- April 17, 2016: 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Report 2 is released.
- April 15, 2016:Â 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Report 1 is released.
Contact information