M4.5 Earthquake 186 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia — January 11, 2021
2021-01-11 23:30:16 UTC (2021-01-11) · approx. 9:30 AM UTC+10 local
On January 11, 2021 at 23:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 186 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 44.0738°, 149.5818°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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
149.5818°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 186 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia on January 11, 2021 at 23:30 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 44.0738°, 149.5818°, which is 186 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000d1r5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 11, 2021). M4.5 Earthquake 186 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia — January 11, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000d1r5/