Shikotan earthquake

268 km NNW of Kuril’sk lies deep within the Kuril‑Kamchatka subduction zone, a convergent plate boundary where the Pacific Plate is thrust beneath the Okhotsk Plate. This segment of the boundary is one of the world’s most seismically active fault zones, routinely generating large megathrust earthquakes (M ≥ 8) and associated tsunamis, as well as intermediate‑depth events that illuminate the complex interaction between the subducting slab and the overriding plate. The region is closely monitored by Russian and international seismological networks, and its fault mechanics—characterized by high slip rates (~10 cm yr⁻¹) and a history of slow‑slip episodes—are a key focus for understanding earthquake triggering and tsunami hazard in the North Pacific.