M5.3 Earthquake 94 km SSE of Kirensk, Russia — December 27, 2023
2023-12-27 05:09:19 UTC (2023-12-27) · approx. 12:09 PM UTC+7 local
On December 27, 2023 at 05:09 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 94 km SSE of Kirensk, Russia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 57.0045°, 108.7206°. This earthquake was detected by 124 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
108.7206°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Kirensk, Russia?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 94 km SSE of Kirensk, Russia on December 27, 2023 at 05:09 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 57.0045°, 108.7206°, which is 94 km SSE of Kirensk, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lzyw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 27, 2023). M5.3 Earthquake 94 km SSE of Kirensk, Russia — December 27, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lzyw/