4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 249 km SSE of Shikotan, Russia — July 26, 2020

2020-07-26 21:31:53 UTC (2020-07-26) · approx. 7:31 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time21:31 UTC≈ 7:31 AM UTC+10
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates41.729°, 147.897°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 26, 2020 at 21:31 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 249 km SSE of Shikotan, Russia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 41.7294°, 147.8970°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

The epicenter is located in Russia, a region characterized by the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone on the northwestern Pacific Ring of Fire. The nearest mapped fault system is the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. View all earthquakes in Russia.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 41.73°, 147.90°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
41.7294°N
147.8970°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000b6tj
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Azimuthal Gap
162.0°
Min Station Distance
3.551°
RMS Residual
0.49 sec
Last Updated
2020-10-03 17:32:33 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Shikotan, Russia?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 249 km SSE of Shikotan, Russia on July 26, 2020 at 21:31 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 41.7294°, 147.8970°, which is 249 km SSE of Shikotan, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Has Russia had earthquakes this big before?

The largest recorded earthquake in Russia was the M9.0 Kamchatka earthquake of November 4, 1952. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000b6tj). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, July 26, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 249 km SSE of Shikotan, Russia — July 26, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000b6tj/