M4.8 Earthquake 51 km SSW of Shikotan, Russia — May 4, 2021
2021-05-04 19:32:59 UTC (2021-05-04) · approx. 5:32 AM UTC+10 local
On May 4, 2021 at 19:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 51 km SSW of Shikotan, Russia, at a depth of 54.0 km and coordinates 43.3752°, 146.4745°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
146.4745°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Shikotan, Russia?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 51 km SSW of Shikotan, Russia on May 4, 2021 at 19:32 UTC had a depth of 54.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 43.3752°, 146.4745°, which is 51 km SSW of Shikotan, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000e04g). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 4, 2021). M4.8 Earthquake 51 km SSW of Shikotan, Russia — May 4, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000e04g/