Location:

Period:

15 Nov 2006 11:24:57 - 16 Nov 2006 06:57:08 (19 hours 32 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

None

Earthquakes:

M 7.0+:

M 8.3; 2006 Kuril Islands Earthquake; (15 Nov 2006) (15km from the swarm center)

11 swarms found nearby.

2003

PS20031231.1(94.9km)

30 Dec

1 day 20 hours

8 earthquakes

2005

PS20051024.1(48.4km)

23 Oct

16 hours

5 earthquakes

2006

PS20060930.1(9.5km)

30 Sep

19 hours

15 earthquakes

PS20061013.1(40.6km)

13 Oct

8 hours

5 earthquakes

PS20061108.1(115.9km)

8 Nov

18 hours

7 earthquakes

PS20061115.1(153.6km)

15 Nov

2 days 17 hours

53 earthquakes

PS20061115.2(187.5km)

15 Nov

1 day 19 hours

15 earthquakes

PS20061120.1(96.4km)

19 Nov

1 day 1 hours

7 earthquakes

2007

PS20070113.2(95.8km)

13 Jan

7 hours

8 earthquakes

2008

PS20080303.1(17.4km)

3 Mar

6 hours

5 earthquakes

2012

PS20120714.1(153.8km)

13 Jul

20 hours

6 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm Activity in the Kuril Islands: November 2006

The Kuril Islands form a volcanic arc extending from Hokkaido, Japan, to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. This region lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences intense seismic activity driven by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Okhotsk Plate. Convergence occurs at rates of 8–9 cm per year, producing frequent earthquakes at varying depths along the megathrust interface and within the overriding plate.

On 15 November 2006, a seismic swarm designated PS20061115.3 was recorded in the Kuril Islands. The sequence began at 11:24 UTC and concluded at 06:57 UTC on 16 November, spanning 19 hours and 32 minutes. During this period, 11 earthquakes were registered. Magnitudes ranged from 4.1 to 6.0, with most events occurring at shallow depths of 10 km. Deeper events reached 23 km, 30 km, and 33 km.

The sequence opened with a magnitude 5.5 event at 11:24:57 UTC, followed rapidly by a magnitude 6.0 shock at 11:25:09 UTC. Subsequent events included magnitudes 5.3, 5.0, 4.1, 5.1, 5.8, 5.5, 5.4, 5.1, and a final magnitude 5.1 event at 06:57:08 UTC on 16 November. Depths remained predominantly shallow, consistent with activity near the plate interface.

This swarm occurred in close proximity to the magnitude 8.3 Kuril Islands earthquake of 15 November 2006, whose epicenter lay approximately 15 km from the swarm centroid. The larger event highlighted the region’s capacity for great earthquakes generated by slip along the subduction zone.

Historical records since 1 January 2000 indicate seven swarms in the Kuril Islands. These occurred in 2003 (one swarm), 2005 (one swarm), and 2006 (five swarms). Such clustering underscores episodic seismic behavior along this tectonically active margin.

The Kuril subduction zone has produced numerous large earthquakes throughout recorded history, reflecting long-term strain accumulation and release. Volcanic activity accompanies the seismicity, as magma generation occurs above the descending slab. Monitoring of swarms provides insight into stress transfer and potential precursors to larger ruptures.

References:
SeismoSight internal swarm classification PS20061115.3
Kuril Islands tectonic framework (subduction zone parameters)