1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake
The site of Severo-Kurilsk, seen from a helicopter in 2006. The site of the modern town, rebuilt at higher level, is not visible. | |
| UTC time | 1952-11-04 16:58:30 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 893648 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | November 5, 1952 |
| Local time | 04:58:30 |
| Magnitude | 8.5 Ms, 9.0 Mw |
| Depth | 21.6 km (13 mi) |
| Epicenter | 52°18′N 161°00′E / 52.3°N 161.0°E |
| Max. intensity | MMI XI (Extreme) |
| Tsunami | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Casualties | 2,336 dead |
The 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The 9.0 Mw earthquake occurred on 5 November 1952 at 04:58 local time, triggering a major tsunami that hit Severo-Kurilsk, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR. This led to the destruction of many settlements in Sakhalin Oblast and Kamchatka Oblast, while the main impact struck the town of Severo-Kurilsk. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Russia, and the fifth most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900.