M4.6 Earthquake 21 km SSE of Popova, Russia — December 26, 2023
2023-12-26 19:10:22 UTC (2023-12-26) · approx. 4:10 AM UTC+9 local
On December 26, 2023 at 19:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 deep-focus earthquake struck 21 km SSE of Popova, Russia, at a depth of 523.0 km and coordinates 42.7773°, 131.8030°. This earthquake was detected by 200 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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
131.8030°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Popova, Russia?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 21 km SSE of Popova, Russia on December 26, 2023 at 19:10 UTC had a depth of 523.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 42.7773°, 131.8030°, which is 21 km SSE of Popova, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lzww). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 26, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 21 km SSE of Popova, Russia — December 26, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lzww/