Magnitude 6.1 Shallow Earthquake Hits Kuril Islands, Russia

A significant shallow earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck the Kuril Islands in the Russian Far East on June 13-14, 2025, at a depth of approximately 10 km, according to multiple seismic agencies including the National Center for Seismology, Japan Meteorological Agency, USGS, and EMSC. The quake is characteristic of the Kuril-Kamchatka Arc, one of the most seismically active regions in the world, known for frequent large and great earthquakes caused by the complex interaction of tectonic plates in the area. Despite the strength of the quake, no tsunami threat was reported, and the USGS issued only a Green alert indicating a low likelihood of casualties and economic losses. The population residing in this region generally inhabits earthquake-resistant structures, although some vulnerable buildings remain. This event adds to the historical pattern of seismic activity in the region, which experiences frequent aftershocks and occasional large megathrust earthquakes capable of generating damaging tsunamis. Additionally, a smaller magnitude 4.7 earthquake was recorded near the Kuril Islands on June 16, 2025, but it was not felt or reported.