Moderate M5.5 earthquake strikes near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia on October 25, 2025

An earthquake of magnitude M5.5 was recorded at 11:13 UTC on October 25, 2025, about 71 km (44 miles) south of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia, at a depth of 82.1 km (51 miles).

The event was located at coordinates 50.0°N, 156.1°E, placing it in the northwestern Pacific region, just south of Paramushir Island in the Kuril Islands chain of Russia. The closest sizeable settlement is Severo-Kuril’sk, a small remote town on Paramushir Island. This region is sparsely populated, with limited human settlements nearby.

Critical infrastructure in this area is minimal, but the region may be served by small local ports, village facilities, and a modest road network connecting remote communities. Accessibility is generally provided by air and sea, rather than major highways.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

The maximum estimated intensity was IV. The significance index is 465 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

The Kuril Islands are positioned along the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Okhotsk Plate, forming a well-known seismically active zone with frequent moderate to strong earthquakes due to subduction and complex tectonic interactions.

This information was last updated at 11:35 UTC on October 25, 2025.