M7.8 Earthquake 140 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia — September 18, 2025
2025-09-18 18:58:14 UTC (2025-09-18) · approx. 5:58 AM UTC+11 local
Felt by 26 people across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 8.3 (violent).
On September 18, 2025 at 18:58 UTC, a magnitude 7.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 140 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, at a depth of 27.0 km and coordinates 53.1426°, 160.7206°. The earthquake was reported felt by 26 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 8.3 (violent). The USGS PAGER system issued a orange alert level for this event, indicating regional impact possible. This earthquake was detected by 212 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 1021, making it one of the most significant global earthquakes in recent days. The nearest populated place is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (population 187,282).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 7.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 7.6 megatons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 145 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
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 26 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 4 | light | 12,176 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 14,003 |
| MMI 6 | strong | 260,106 |
| MMI 7 | very strong | 1,003 |
| MMI 8 | severe | 55 |
Earthquake Details
160.7206°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 7.8 earthquake near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia?
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck 140 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia on September 18, 2025 at 18:58 UTC had a depth of 27.0 km. It was felt by 26 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 8.3 (violent). For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 53.1426°, 160.7206°, which is 140 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. The nearest populated place is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (population 187,282). View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 7.8 earthquakes can continue for months to years 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 7.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000qx2g). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, September 18, 2025). M7.8 Earthquake 140 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia — September 18, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000qx2g/