A powerful earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the Kuril Islands in Russia, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The tremor occurred at a depth of 12 kilometers (7.46 miles), the EMSC confirmed on Monday.
The Kuril Islands, part of Russia’s Sakhalin Oblast in the Far East, lie between the Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan’s Hokkaido Island, spanning a distance of approximately 1,200 kilometers. The region, which separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean, is known for its seismic activity due to the presence of over 100 volcanoes. Earthquakes and tsunamis are common occurrences in this geologically volatile area.
❗️🇷🇺 – A magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Russia's Kuril Islands on Friday, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 12 km (7.46 miles). pic.twitter.com/OtPmpg55Vx
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) June 13, 2025