M5.0 Earthquake 159 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — October 17, 2021
2021-10-17 12:05:16 UTC (2021-10-17) · approx. 10:05 PM UTC+10 local
On October 17, 2021 at 12:05 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 159 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 43.6 km and coordinates 49.2442°, 155.9686°.
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
Earthquake Details
155.9686°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 159 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on October 17, 2021 at 12:05 UTC had a depth of 43.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 49.2442°, 155.9686°, which is 159 km S 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 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: us6000fver). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, October 17, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 159 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — October 17, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000fver/