M5.3 Earthquake 77 km SSE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — November 27, 2020
2020-11-27 18:45:10 UTC (2020-11-27) · approx. 4:45 AM UTC+10 local
On November 27, 2020 at 18:45 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 77 km SSE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 52.3 km and coordinates 49.9970°, 156.3710°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
Earthquake Details
156.3710°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 77 km SSE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on November 27, 2020 at 18:45 UTC had a depth of 52.3 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 49.9970°, 156.3710°, which is 77 km SSE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ckgb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 27, 2020). M5.3 Earthquake 77 km SSE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ckgb/