1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake
Helicopter view of the place where Severo-Kurilsk was located before the 1952 tsunami. The site of the modern town, rebuilt at higher level, is not visible. | |
1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake (Kamchatka Krai) | |
| 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 | 8.8–9.0 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 | 2,336–14,000 dead |
The 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Mw 8.8–9.0 earthquake occurred on 5 November 1952 at 04:58 local time, triggering a major tsunami that struck the Kuril Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula within the Russian SFSR in the Soviet Union. 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 remains 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. It was also the deadliest and most damaging tsunami recorded in Russia.