Unusually powerful M6.5 Earthquake hit in the Sea Of Okhotsk 157km from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Russia) on Saturday Afternoon.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on August 10th, 2024. Last updated September 16th, 2024.

In the Sea Of Okhotsk 157 kilometer from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, an unusually powerful MAG-6.5 earthquake occurred in the afternoon of Saturday August 10th, 2024. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Sea Of Okhotsk, 150 kilometers (93 mi) off the coast of Russia, 157 kilometer east of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Sakhalin Oblast. The center of this earthquake had a deep depth of 401 km.

Date and Time:	Aug 10, 2024 14:28 (Sakhalin Time) - Aug 10, 2024 03:28 Universal Time.
Location:	157 km east of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia. Coordinates 47°11'37"N 144°46'56"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.5 Detected by 5 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.053 .
Depth:	401 km (249 mi) A deep depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential tsunami risk The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. The US Geographic Survey organization has indicated a potential risk for tsunami's following this earthquake.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	This earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5. Earthquakes of this strength could trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 401 km (249 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 290 thousand people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 290 thousand have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is III, which corresponds with weak shaking and probably no damage. Roughly 288,000 people are expected to be exposed to this level.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Russia , around 290 thousand people, with impact levels up to III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
288,000	III	Weak	Probably none
0	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Russia . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is located 157 kilometer (98 mi) east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is located 157 km to the west and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Asahikawa is located 425 km to the south-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Kushiro is located 470 km to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
157 km (98 mi) W from epicenter	Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Sakhalin Oblast, Russia.	III Weak
164 km (102 mi) WSW from epicenter	Korsakov Sakhalin Oblast, Russia.	III Weak
207 km (129 mi) W from epicenter	Kholmsk Sakhalin Oblast, Russia.
229 km (142 mi) WSW from epicenter	Nevel’sk Sakhalin Oblast, Russia.
258 km (160 mi) NNW from epicenter	Poronaysk Sakhalin Oblast, Russia.
305 km (190 mi) SW from epicenter	Makubetsu Hokkaido, Japan.
310 km (193 mi) SW from epicenter	Wakkanai Hokkaido, Japan.
335 km (208 mi) SSW from epicenter	Mombetsu Hokkaido, Japan.
355 km (221 mi) S from epicenter	Abashiri Hokkaido, Japan.
364 km (226 mi) SSW from epicenter	Nayoro Hokkaido, Japan.
378 km (235 mi) S from epicenter	Motomachi Hokkaido, Japan.
383 km (238 mi) S from epicenter	Kitami Hokkaido, Japan.
386 km (240 mi) SSW from epicenter	Minamishibetsuchō Hokkaido, Japan.
388 km (241 mi) WNW from epicenter	Sovetskaya Gavan’ Khabarovsk, Russia.
394 km (245 mi) S from epicenter	Shibetsu Hokkaido, Japan.
397 km (247 mi) WNW from epicenter	Vanino Khabarovsk, Russia.
406 km (252 mi) S from epicenter	Nakashibetsu Hokkaido, Japan.
425 km (264 mi) SSW from epicenter	Asahikawa Hokkaido, Japan.
435 km (270 mi) S from epicenter	Nemuro Hokkaido, Japan.
437 km (272 mi) SSW from epicenter	Rumoi Hokkaido, Japan.
443 km (275 mi) SSW from epicenter	Fukagawa Hokkaido, Japan.
457 km (284 mi) SSW from epicenter	Ashibetsu Hokkaido, Japan.
463 km (288 mi) SSW from epicenter	Takikawa Hokkaido, Japan.
467 km (290 mi) SSW from epicenter	Shimo-furano Hokkaido, Japan.
469 km (291 mi) SSW from epicenter	Sunagawa Hokkaido, Japan.
470 km (292 mi) S from epicenter	Kushiro Hokkaido, Japan.
483 km (300 mi) SSW from epicenter	Otofuke Hokkaido, Japan.
487 km (303 mi) SSW from epicenter	Bibai Hokkaido, Japan.
491 km (305 mi) SSW from epicenter	Obihiro Hokkaido, Japan.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is III. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 5 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 5 people have reported shaking in 5 places in 2 countries (Japan, Russia).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan: 1 person.
Matsudo, Chiba, Japan: 1 person.
Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan: 1 person.
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan: 1 person.
Sovetskaya Gavan, Habarovsk, Russia: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

This earthquake did not have any significant foreshocks nor aftershocks occurring within 100km (62 mi) of its epicenter.

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 6.5 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

Sources

Last updated 16/09/24 03:48 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.