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M6.7 Earthquake near Курильск, Russia — 27 December 2024, 12:47 UTC

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.7 was recorded near Курильск, Russia on , at a focal depth of 162.6 km. It was the strongest of the 17 earthquakes recorded in Russia in the preceding 30 days.

6.7 Strong

Time (UTC): 2024-12-27 12:47:34

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 6.7 (strong)

Focal depth: 162.6 km (intermediate)

Epicentre: 47.0026, 152.0850

Location: Kuril Islands

Country: Russia

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

Review status: Reviewed

Source: USGS event page

How strong was this earthquake?

Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground.

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake radiates roughly 169,203 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 691, which meets the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 22:55 local solar time at the epicentre, late at night.

This event was deeper than 98% of the 1,906 earthquakes recorded in Russia in our catalogue and stronger than 99% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 47.0026, 152.0850. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.3 earthquake 35 km south of here on 29 April 2025.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Severo-Kuril’sk (209 km north-northeast) and Kuril’sk (238 km south-southwest).

Why the 163 km depth matters

At 163 km this was an intermediate-depth earthquake. Energy from events at this depth spreads out before it reaches the surface, which usually means weaker shaking near the epicentre than a shallow quake of the same magnitude, but shaking felt across a wider area.

This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its intermediate depth normally reduces peak shaking near the epicentre compared with a shallow event of the same magnitude.

Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →

What does the tsunami information flag mean?

The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.

How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →

Aftershocks and local seismic history

No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.

64 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.7 event near Kuril Islands on 27 December 2024. This M6.7 event released a comparable amount of energy to that event.

1 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 1 of them in the past 30 days.

How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →

Where this event sits in the record

This earthquake is part of the December 2024 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in Russia during December 2024. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.

Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre

Other recent earthquakes in Russia

All recorded earthquakes in Russia →

Other magnitude 6 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 6 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Курильск?

It measured magnitude 6.7 — a strong earthquake. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake radiates roughly 169,203 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Курильск?

The focus was 163 km below the surface, which counts as intermediate.

Was the Курильск earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 6.7 and a focal depth of 163 km, the depth spreads the energy out, so shaking is weaker overhead but reaches further.

When did the earthquake near Курильск happen?

27 December 2024 at 12:47 UTC.

Was there a tsunami?

The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.

Have there been aftershocks?

No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.

How often do earthquakes happen near Курильск?

64 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.7 event near Kuril Islands on 27 December 2024. This M6.7 event released a comparable amount of energy to that event.