M5.6 Earthquake 206 km SE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — November 21, 2025
2025-11-21 22:38:09 UTC (2025-11-21) · approx. 9:38 AM UTC+11 local
On November 21, 2025 at 22:38 UTC, a magnitude 5.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 206 km SE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 12.0 km and coordinates 49.6656°, 158.5579°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 119 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 482, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Severo-Kuril'sk (population 2,422).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 4 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 4.4 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
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.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
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) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 1,995 |
Earthquake Details
158.5579°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 5.6 earthquake that struck 206 km SE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on November 21, 2025 at 22:38 UTC had a depth of 12.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 49.6656°, 158.5579°, which is 206 km SE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. The nearest populated place is Severo-Kuril'sk (population 2,422). View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.6 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 5.6 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: us6000rpql). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, November 21, 2025). M5.6 Earthquake 206 km SE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — November 21, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rpql/