M4.5 Earthquake 52 km NE of Shikotan, Russia — October 17, 2023
2023-10-17 22:56:01 UTC (2023-10-17) · approx. 8:56 AM UTC+10 local
On October 17, 2023 at 22:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 52 km NE of Shikotan, Russia, at a depth of 112.2 km and coordinates 44.1143°, 147.2058°. This earthquake was detected by 78 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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
147.2058°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Shikotan, Russia?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 52 km NE of Shikotan, Russia on October 17, 2023 at 22:56 UTC had a depth of 112.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 44.1143°, 147.2058°, which is 52 km NE of Shikotan, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lg8s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 17, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 52 km NE of Shikotan, Russia — October 17, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lg8s/