Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Southern Kuril Islands – A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Southern Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, May 3, according to the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk seismological station in Russia. Elena Semenova, head of the seismological station, told RIA Novosti that the quake occurred at 4:02 PM local time (8:02 AM Moscow time).
Pacific Ocean, earthquake epicenter
Monitoring centers located the epicenter of the earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, 28 kilometers northeast of the village of Malokorelskoye on Shikotan Island. Technical data also indicated that the earthquake’s source was at a depth of 44 kilometers below the sea surface.
Impact of the earthquake and the procedures followed
Field reports indicate that residents of Shikotan Island clearly felt the earthquakes, which were locally estimated at a magnitude of 3. Despite the heightened alert level that accompanies such events in coastal areas, Semenova confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued. Furthermore, no damage or injuries have been reported so far.
The Kuril Islands are a seismically active region. For this reason, they are under constant monitoring by Russian scientists to ensure a rapid response to any natural disasters that could threaten the safety of the population or the infrastructure in this vital area.
