M5.0 Earthquake 237 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — December 12, 2021
2021-12-12 19:04:41 UTC (2021-12-12) · approx. 5:04 AM UTC+10 local
On December 12, 2021 at 19:04 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 237 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 80.8 km and coordinates 48.8583°, 154.3976°.
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
154.3976°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 237 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on December 12, 2021 at 19:04 UTC had a depth of 80.8 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 48.8583°, 154.3976°, which is 237 km SSW 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: us6000gbpw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 12, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 237 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gbpw/