M4.6 Earthquake 190 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia — November 16, 2025
2025-11-16 21:17:38 UTC (2025-11-16) · approx. 8:17 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On November 16, 2025 at 21:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 190 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 51.3607°, 159.5291°. This earthquake was detected by 44 seismic stations with good 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 5 hours ago 190 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
159.5291°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Vilyuchinsk, Russia?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 190 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia on November 16, 2025 at 21:17 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 51.3607°, 159.5291°, which is 190 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 190 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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: us6000rnmu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, November 16, 2025). M4.6 Earthquake 190 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia — November 16, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rnmu/