On Saturday Afternoon a Very strong M7.4 Earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean 111km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on September 13th, 2025. Last updated November 11th, 2025.

In the afternoon of Saturday September 13th, 2025, a very strong M7.4 earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 111 kilometer from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 26 kilometers (16 mi) off the coast of Russia, 111 kilometer east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Kamchatka. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 40 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Sep 13, 2025 14:37 (Kamchatka Time) - Sep 13, 2025 02:37 Universal Time.
Location:	111 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka, Russia. Coordinates 53°6'15"N 160°17'38"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 7.4 Detected by 11 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.033 .
Depth:	40 km (25 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong 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 7.4. Earthquakes of this strength could trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 40 km (25 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could 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 89% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 99% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 280 thousand people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 280 thousand people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 300 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 230 thousand). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Russia .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
12,100	III	Weak	Probably none
229,000	IV	Light	Likely none
35,580	V	Moderate	Very light
300	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 . Located 111 kilometer (69 mi) east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Kamchatka, Russia) is the nearest significant population center. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
111 km (69 mi) W from epicenter	Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Kamchatka, Russia.	IV Light
128 km (80 mi) W from epicenter	Yelizovo Kamchatka, Russia.	V Moderate
128 km (80 mi) W from epicenter	Vilyuchinsk Kamchatka, Russia.	IV Light

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is VI.

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 19 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 19 people have reported shaking in 4 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:

Petropavlovsk-Kamčatskij, Kamčatka, Russia: 12 people.
Mohovaja, Kamčatka, Russia: 3 people.
Jelizovo, Kamčatka, Russia: 3 people.
Ayase, Kanagawa, Japan: 1 person.

24 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 24 smaller aftershocks. A 6 magnitude earthquake hit 3 days later 52 km (32 mi) south-southeast of this earthquake.

In the days before this main shock, 4 smaller foreshocks were detected. Roughly 2 days before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-5 was detected nearby this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 4.3	3 days earlier Sep 10, 2025 15:56 (Kamchatka Time)	50 km (31 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.2	3 days earlier Sep 10, 2025 17:07 (Kamchatka Time)	48 km (30 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.5	3 days earlier Sep 10, 2025 22:31 (Kamchatka Time)	67 km (42 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 5.0	2 days earlier Sep 11, 2025 07:30 (Kamchatka Time)	39 km (24 mi) WSW from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 7.4	Sep 13, 2025 14:37 (Kamchatka Time)	-
Aftershock	M 5.2	4 hrs later Sep 13, 2025 18:22 (Kamchatka Time)	14 km (9 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	5 hrs later Sep 13, 2025 19:12 (Kamchatka Time)	13 km (8 mi) WSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	9 hrs later Sep 14, 2025 00:07 (Kamchatka Time)	14 km (9 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.1	12 hrs later Sep 14, 2025 02:42 (Kamchatka Time)	54 km (34 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.5	15 hrs later Sep 14, 2025 05:17 (Kamchatka Time)	58 km (36 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.1	17 hrs later Sep 14, 2025 07:22 (Kamchatka Time)	34 km (21 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.4	17 hrs later Sep 14, 2025 07:47 (Kamchatka Time)	43 km (27 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.0	1 day later Sep 14, 2025 14:59 (Kamchatka Time)	12 km (8 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	1 day later Sep 15, 2025 02:14 (Kamchatka Time)	63 km (39 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.6	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 03:10 (Kamchatka Time)	28 km (17 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.3	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 03:10 (Kamchatka Time)	60 km (37 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.1	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 05:12 (Kamchatka Time)	78 km (48 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.3	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 05:28 (Kamchatka Time)	55 km (34 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 5.2	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 12:06 (Kamchatka Time)	13 km (8 mi) WSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.5	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 13:12 (Kamchatka Time)	27 km (17 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 5.2	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 13:39 (Kamchatka Time)	33 km (21 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.1	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 15:38 (Kamchatka Time)	35 km (21 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.4	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 19:18 (Kamchatka Time)	38 km (24 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.3	2 days later Sep 15, 2025 21:54 (Kamchatka Time)	42 km (26 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.4	3 days later Sep 16, 2025 04:06 (Kamchatka Time)	40 km (25 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.4	3 days later Sep 16, 2025 04:09 (Kamchatka Time)	35 km (22 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 6.0	3 days later Sep 16, 2025 04:34 (Kamchatka Time)	52 km (32 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.5	3 days later Sep 16, 2025 08:18 (Kamchatka Time)	46 km (29 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.1	3 days later Sep 16, 2025 08:18 (Kamchatka Time)	22 km (14 mi) S from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

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.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

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

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

Earthquakes of this strength are not so common in the region, but it's not the first time. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since July 29th, 2025, when a 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit 68 km (42 mi) further south. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 2 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.4 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 5 years.

Sources

Last updated 11/11/25 08:58 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.