M5.6 Earthquake 265 km N of Kuril’sk, Russia — January 12, 2026
2026-01-12 01:52:57 UTC (2026-01-12) · approx. 11:52 AM UTC+10 local
On January 12, 2026 at 01:52 UTC, a magnitude 5.6 deep-focus earthquake struck 265 km N of Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 396.0 km and coordinates 47.5903°, 147.3686°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 232 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 482, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 4 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 4.4 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
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
Earthquake Details
147.3686°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Kuril’sk, Russia?
The magnitude 5.6 earthquake that struck 265 km N of Kuril’sk, Russia on January 12, 2026 at 01:52 UTC had a depth of 396.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 47.5903°, 147.3686°, which is 265 km N of Kuril’sk, Russia. View all earthquakes in Russia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.6 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 5.6 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: us7000rp3w). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 12, 2026). M5.6 Earthquake 265 km N of Kuril’sk, Russia — January 12, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rp3w/