M4.8 Earthquake 293 km SW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — May 31, 2021
2021-05-31 02:55:44 UTC (2021-05-31) · approx. 12:55 PM UTC+10 local
On May 31, 2021 at 02:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 293 km SW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 160.3 km and coordinates 48.7651°, 153.3235°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — 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
Earthquake Details
153.3235°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 293 km SW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on May 31, 2021 at 02:55 UTC had a depth of 160.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 48.7651°, 153.3235°, which is 293 km SW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000eg3x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 31, 2021). M4.8 Earthquake 293 km SW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — May 31, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000eg3x/