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M5.6 Depth: 10.0 km

M5.6 Earthquake near Kuril Islands

UTC time: 2025-12-21 03:48:00 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M5.6 earthquake was recorded near Kuril Islands on December 21, 2025 at 03:48 UTC. With a focal depth of about 10 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Events of this size can cause damage near the epicenter.

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

Details

Magnitude
M5.6
Depth
10.0 km
UTC time
2025-12-21 03:48:00 UTC
Local time
—
Country
—
Source
gfz
Coordinates
43.55000, 147.94000
Temperature
6.7°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 10 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 10 km
Shallow
10 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
Nemuro192.6 kmW31'223
Kushiro295.7 kmW167'875
Sapporo535.8 kmW1'973'832

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Berutarubesan [Berutarube]
    Distance: 130 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'221 m ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Hitokappu Volcano Group [Bogatyr Ridge]
    Distance: 152 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'610 m ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Etorofu-Atosanupuri [Atosanupuri]
    Distance: 154 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'206 m ·Last eruption: 1932 ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Chachadake [Tiatia]
    Distance: 162 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'822 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Etorofu-Yakeyama [Grozny Group]
    Distance: 163 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 1'158 m ·Last eruption: 2013 ·Japan - administered by Russia
  • Odamoisan [Tebenkov]
    Distance: 164 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'208 m ·Japan - administered by Russia

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

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

First 6 hours7
First 24 hours7
First 72 hours7
Strongest subsequent eventM5.5
M5.52025-12-21 03:48:01 UTC11.1 kmEvent of magnitude 5.5, near of Sapporo (Monde) M5.12025-12-21 04:03:39 UTC15.6 km114 km ESE of Shikotan, Russia M5.12025-12-21 04:03:39 UTC1.6 kmKuril Islands M5.42025-12-21 04:03:39 UTC6.8 kmEvent of magnitude 5.4, near of Sapporo (Monde) M4.92025-12-21 04:46:59 UTC91.5 kmEast of Kuril Islands M5.42025-12-21 04:46:59 UTC93.7 kmEvent of magnitude 5.4, near of Sapporo (Monde) M4.72025-12-21 04:47:11 UTC22.8 km81 km E of Shikotan, Russia M4.42025-12-24 12:39:35 UTC32.9 kmKURIL ISLANDS M5.12025-12-24 23:00:05 UTC19.9 kmEvent of magnitude 5.1, near of Sapporo (Monde) M5.02025-12-24 23:00:06 UTC15.1 kmEast of Kuril Islands M4.92025-12-24 23:00:09 UTC10.1 kmKURIL ISLANDS M4.92025-12-24 23:00:10 UTC10.4 km107 km ESE of Shikotan, Russia

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#11
Earlier events M≥4107
Earlier events M≥539
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 UTC136.9 km88 km ESE of Nemuro, Japan M6.22025-06-18 23:08:05 UTC140.3 km90 km SE of Nemuro, Japan M6.12025-06-21 21:23:17 UTC136.9 km88 km ESE of Nemuro, Japan M6.12025-06-21 21:23:17 UTC137.6 kmOFF COAST OF HOKKAIDO, JAPAN M6.02025-06-21 21:23:18 UTC144.3 kmOff Coast of Hokkaido, Japan

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)
510
Country (24h)
—
—
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