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M5.1 Depth: 34.6 km

M5.1 Earthquake near KURIL ISLANDS

UTC time: 2025-12-21 02:05:40 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M5.1 earthquake was recorded near KURIL ISLANDS on December 21, 2025 at 02:05 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 35 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this magnitude can damage poorly built structures.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks.

Details

Magnitude
M5.1
Depth
34.6 km
UTC time
2025-12-21 02:05:40 UTC
Local time
—
Country
—
Source
emsc
Coordinates
43.83720, 147.46330
Temperature
6.4°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 34.6 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 34.6 km
Shallow
34.6 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Nearby population centers

Distances are straight-line distances from the epicenter. Population data: GeoNames.

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Nemuro162.5 kmW31'223
Kushiro267.3 kmW167'875
Sapporo500.7 kmW1'973'832

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Berutarubesan [Berutarube]
    Distance: 81 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'221 m ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Etorofu-Atosanupuri [Atosanupuri]
    Distance: 111 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'206 m ·Last eruption: 1932 ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Chachadake [Tiatia]
    Distance: 112 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'822 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Hitokappu Volcano Group [Bogatyr Ridge]
    Distance: 113 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'610 m ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Ruruidake [Smirnov]
    Distance: 126 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'447 m ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Etorofu-Yakeyama [Grozny Group]
    Distance: 135 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 1'158 m ·Last eruption: 2013 ·Japan - administered by Russia

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 150 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours13
First 24 hours13
First 72 hours13
Strongest subsequent eventM5.6
M4.92025-12-21 03:33:43 UTC4.9 kmKuril Islands M4.72025-12-21 03:33:47 UTC12.9 km67 km ENE of Shikotan, Russia M5.02025-12-21 03:33:49 UTC79.7 kmKuril'skij municipal'nyj okrug M5.22025-12-21 03:47:59 UTC61.1 kmKURIL ISLANDS M5.22025-12-21 03:48:00 UTC61.1 km110 km ESE of Shikotan, Russia M5.62025-12-21 03:48:00 UTC49.9 kmKuril Islands M5.32025-12-21 03:48:00 UTC61.8 kmKuril Islands M5.52025-12-21 03:48:01 UTC40.0 kmEvent of magnitude 5.5, near of Sapporo (Monde) M5.12025-12-21 04:03:39 UTC64.9 km114 km ESE of Shikotan, Russia M5.12025-12-21 04:03:39 UTC48.7 kmKuril Islands M5.42025-12-21 04:03:39 UTC56.7 kmEvent of magnitude 5.4, near of Sapporo (Monde) M4.92025-12-21 04:46:59 UTC141.3 kmEast of Kuril Islands

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#22
Earlier events M≥4104
Earlier events M≥535
Compared since2025-01-13

The QuakeMap24 comparison dataset begins on 2024-03-23. Earlier earthquakes may not be included.

Strongest earlier events

M6.22025-06-21 21:23:17 UTC129.7 km88 km ESE of Nemuro, Japan M6.22025-06-18 23:08:05 UTC134.2 km90 km SE of Nemuro, Japan M6.12025-06-21 21:23:17 UTC129.8 km88 km ESE of Nemuro, Japan M6.12025-06-21 21:23:17 UTC128.9 kmOFF COAST OF HOKKAIDO, JAPAN M6.02025-06-21 21:23:18 UTC133.0 kmOff Coast of Hokkaido, Japan

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)
510
Country (24h)
—
—
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