5.0

M5.0 Earthquake 123 km SSE of Kuril’sk, RussiaAugust 10, 2021

2021-08-10 12:08:44 UTC (2021-08-10) · approx. 10:08 PM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM5.0(mww)
Time12:08 UTC10:08 PM UTC+10
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates44.157°, 148.321°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 10, 2021 at 12:08 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 123 km SSE of Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 44.1574°, 148.3205°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 44.16°, 148.32°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mww
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
44.1574°N
148.3205°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000f3u7
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Azimuthal Gap
119.0°
Min Station Distance
4.123°
RMS Residual
0.55 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 22:13:24 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Kuril’sk, Russia?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 123 km SSE of Kuril’sk, Russia on August 10, 2021 at 12:08 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 44.1574°, 148.3205°, which is 123 km SSE of Kuril’sk, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000f3u7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, August 10, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 123 km SSE of Kuril’sk, RussiaAugust 10, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000f3u7/