Powerful 6.1 quake shakes southern Kuril Islands UPDATED

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Kuril Islands on April 13.

The tremor occurred at approximately 8:13 p.m. (GMT+3) in the Sea of Okhotsk, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Seismologists reported that the epicenter was located 227 kilometers northwest of Simushir Island, which is uninhabited. The quake’s hypocenter lay at a significant depth of 400 kilometers beneath the ocean floor. Svetlana Semenova, a seismic specialist, noted that residents in the village of Malokurilskoye on nearby Shikotan Island may have experienced mild tremors with a seismic intensity of around 2 on the local scale. 

Despite the strength of the quake, officials confirmed that there is no tsunami threat. The depth and offshore location of the earthquake minimized the risk of tsunami formation and widespread damage. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage. Authorities continue to monitor the region for any potential aftershocks.

14:02

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre has confirmed that a second earthquake hit Tajikistan on the same day. 

The latest tremor, recorded at 12:14 p.m. (GMT+5), had a magnitude of 4.2, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The epicenter was located approximately 40 kilometers east of Rasht and 179 kilometers east of the capital, Dushanbe. Uzbekistan’s Center for Seismic Prognostic Monitoring registered the quake at a slightly higher magnitude of 4.3, noting that the tremor was not felt on Uzbek territory.

Earlier in the morning, a stronger earthquake struck the same region. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude of 5.8 for the first quake, which occurred at 09:24 a.m. The tremor originated at a depth of 12.6 kilometers, around 25 kilometers east of Rasht.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre assessed the earlier quake slightly higher, at 5.9 magnitude. That initial tremor was felt in neighbouring Uzbekistan, with light shaking (2 on the intensity scale) reported in the capital, Tashkent.

10:11

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) has stated that within the span of a single day, several powerful underground tremors were recorded across different parts of the globe, impacting regions in Asia and Oceania. 

Seismic activity was detected in Tajikistan, Myanmar, and off the coast of Papua New Guinea, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, struck Tajikistan on April 13, at 04:24 UTC (07:24 MSK). The epicenter was located more than 170 kilometers southeast of Khujand city, home to over 198,000 people. The quake originated at a depth of 16 kilometers. No reports of damage or casualties have been received so far. Shortly afterward, seismologists recorded a 5.5-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar.

The epicenter was 86 kilometers south of Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, with a population of approximately 1.2 million. The quake’s hypocenter was at a depth of 35 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage. The third quake, measuring 5.6 in magnitude, was registered off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Its epicenter was 302 kilometers north of the capital, Port Moresby, which has a population of around 283,000. The quake originated at a depth of 72 kilometers. 

No tsunami warning was issued following the tremor. Although the earthquakes occurred in different regions, their near-simultaneous timing highlights a possible increase in tectonic activity along the boundary between the Eurasian and Pacific lithospheric plates. Seismologists are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

By Naila Huseynova