4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 68 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, RussiaOctober 21, 2025

2025-10-21 18:05:40 UTC (2025-10-21) · approx. 4:05 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time18:05 UTC4:05 AM UTC+10
Depth56.9 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates50.074°, 156.306°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 21, 2025 at 18:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 68 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 56.9 km and coordinates 50.0735°, 156.3061°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 11 days ago 78 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 50.07°, 156.31°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
56.9 km
shallow crustal
Location
50.0735°N
156.3061°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000rmtl
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
51
Azimuthal Gap
131.0°
Min Station Distance
11.076°
RMS Residual
0.56 sec
Last Updated
2026-01-09 15:38:47 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 68 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on October 21, 2025 at 18:05 UTC had a depth of 56.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 78 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000rmtl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, October 21, 2025). M4.4 Earthquake 68 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, RussiaOctober 21, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rmtl/