M4.3 Earthquake 165 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — August 16, 2023
2023-08-16 15:08:46 UTC (2023-08-16) · approx. 1:08 AM UTC+10 local
On August 16, 2023 at 15:08 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 165 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 43.5 km and coordinates 49.1900°, 156.0550°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred 7 days ago 134 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
156.0550°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 165 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on August 16, 2023 at 15:08 UTC had a depth of 43.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 134 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kqgv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 16, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 165 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia — August 16, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kqgv/