M4.6 Earthquake 136 km E of Shikotan, Russia — March 16, 2025
2025-03-16 16:19:24 UTC (2025-03-16) · approx. 2:19 AM UTC+10 local
On March 16, 2025 at 16:19 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 136 km E of Shikotan, Russia, at a depth of 29.3 km and coordinates 43.6687°, 148.4016°. This earthquake was detected by 70 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
148.4016°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Shikotan, Russia?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 136 km E of Shikotan, Russia on March 16, 2025 at 16:19 UTC had a depth of 29.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 43.6687°, 148.4016°, which is 136 km E of Shikotan, 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: us6000pz6r). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 16, 2025). M4.6 Earthquake 136 km E of Shikotan, Russia — March 16, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pz6r/