4.9

M4.9 Earthquake 175 km SE of Kuril’sk, RussiaAugust 17, 2022

2022-08-17 13:25:59 UTC (2022-08-17) · approx. 11:25 PM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time13:25 UTC11:25 PM UTC+10
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates44.300°, 149.668°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 17, 2022 at 13:25 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 175 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 44.2997°, 149.6683°. This earthquake was detected by 103 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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 44.30°, 149.67°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
44.2997°N
149.6683°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000ibky
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Stations Used
103
Azimuthal Gap
135.0°
Min Station Distance
5.090°
RMS Residual
0.44 sec
Last Updated
2022-10-28 02:26:45 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kuril’sk, Russia?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 175 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia on August 17, 2022 at 13:25 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 44.2997°, 149.6683°, which is 175 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ibky). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, August 17, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 175 km SE of Kuril’sk, RussiaAugust 17, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ibky/