5.5

M5.5 Earthquake 89 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, RussiaSeptember 29, 2025

2025-09-29 22:07:23 UTC (2025-09-29) · approx. 9:07 AM UTC+11 local

Felt by 1 person across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.5 (moderate).

MagnitudeM5.5(mww)
Time22:07 UTC9:07 AM UTC+11
Depth42.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates52.964°, 159.945°
Felt by1DYFI response· max MMI 4.5
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS· green PAGER
green Alertno significant casualties or damage expected

On September 29, 2025 at 22:07 UTC, a magnitude 5.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 89 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, at a depth of 42.0 km and coordinates 52.9637°, 159.9446°. The earthquake was reported felt by 1 personacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.5 (moderate). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 101 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 466, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Paratunka (population 1,767).

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 3 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 3.8 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

Nearest Populated Places

Paratunkapop. 1,767
MMI 3.3 (light)
Vilyuchinskpop. 25,204
MMI 3.3 (light)
Yelizovopop. 40,692
MMI 3.3 (light)
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskypop. 187,282
MMI 3.3 (light)
Map showing earthquake epicenter at 52.96°, 159.94°

ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity

Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.

USGS ShakeMap intensity contours for the M5.5 earthquake near 89 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia

Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M5.5 earthquake near 89 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Population exposure (USGS PAGER)

Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.

Shaking intensity (MMI)DescriptionPopulation exposed
MMI 3weak177,951
MMI 4light80,824

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.5 mww
Depth
42.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
52.9637°N
159.9446°E
Felt Reports
1
DYFI responses
Intensity (MMI)
4.5
moderate
Community Intensity
3.8
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000rdnq
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
466
Stations Used
101
Azimuthal Gap
60.0°
Min Station Distance
0.785°
RMS Residual
0.84 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-11 21:40:40 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.5 earthquake near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia?

The magnitude 5.5 earthquake that struck 89 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia on September 29, 2025 at 22:07 UTC had a depth of 42.0 km. It was felt by 1 person with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.5 (moderate). For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 52.9637°, 159.9446°, which is 89 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. The nearest populated place is Paratunka (population 1,767). View all earthquakes in Russia.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.5 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 5.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000rdnq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, September 29, 2025). M5.5 Earthquake 89 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, RussiaSeptember 29, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rdnq/