The earthquake occurred as the result of reverse faulting within the subducting Pacific Plate, and not on the subduction interface itself, therefore it could be considered an intraplate earthquake.[13] Moment tensor solutions indicate that slip occurred either on a moderately dipping fault striking to the south, or a moderately dipping fault striking to the north-northeast, consistent with the east-west oriented compression expected in this region.[2] According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a depth of 49.9 km, while the Japanese Meteorological Agency placed its depth at 55 km, a revision from the initial 60 km.[13]