M6.1 earthquake - 83 km NNE of Shikotan, Russia

What happened

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck 83 km NNE of Shikotan, Russia on 16 Mar 1964, 08:44 UTC at a depth of 142 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Nemuro, about 181 km away in Hokkaido, Japan.