Moderate M5.6 earthquake strikes near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on October 10, 2025
An earthquake registering M5.6 struck at 11:16 UTC on October 10, 2025, approximately 43 km (27 miles) southeast of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia. The event was measured at a depth of 76.3 km (47.4 miles), in the region of the northern Kuril Islands.
The coordinates place the earthquake close to the island settlement of Severo-Kuril’sk in the Kuril archipelago (50.4°N, 156.5°E). This area is sparsely populated, with Severo-Kuril’sk serving as the principal municipality within this northern part of the island chain bordering the western Pacific.
This region’s critical infrastructure primarily includes the local port, limited roadways, and utility services supporting the town of Severo-Kuril’sk. No major airports or cross-regional highways are reported nearby.
There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.
USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity was IV on the Modified Mercalli scale. The significance index is 482 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.
The Kuril Islands are situated along the seismically active boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, a region historically known for frequent moderate to strong earthquakes and active volcanism due to subduction processes.
This information was last updated at 11:41 UTC on October 10, 2025.