M4.6 Earthquake 161 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia — September 19, 2025
2025-09-19 20:46:49 UTC (2025-09-19) · approx. 7:46 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On September 19, 2025 at 20:46 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 161 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, at a depth of 27.6 km and coordinates 53.1528°, 161.0300°. This earthquake was detected by 105 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 29 days ago 166 km ESE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 16 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
161.0300°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 161 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia on September 19, 2025 at 20:46 UTC had a depth of 27.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 53.1528°, 161.0300°, which is 161 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 166 km ESE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000qxgc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, September 19, 2025). M4.6 Earthquake 161 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia — September 19, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000qxgc/