M5.0 Earthquake 285 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — July 15, 2023
2023-07-15 21:11:36 UTC (2023-07-15) · approx. 7:11 AM UTC+10 local
On July 15, 2023 at 21:11 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 285 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 48.2602°, 154.8056°. This earthquake was detected by 134 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
154.8056°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 285 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on July 15, 2023 at 21:11 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 48.2602°, 154.8056°, which is 285 km SSW 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 5.0 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kg0p). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 15, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 285 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — July 15, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kg0p/