Significant earthquakes of 1995

May 27, 1995 Earthquake: Neftegorsk, Okha, Moskalvo, Sakhalin Is, Russia

May 27, 1995 · M7.1 · 1,989 deaths · $300 million

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Neftegorsk, Okha, Moskalvo, Sakhalin Is, Russia on May 27, 1995 at 13:03:52 UTC, 11 km below the surface. It killed 1,989 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date
May 27, 1995
Time
13:03:52 UTC
Place
Neftegorsk, Okha, Moskalvo, Sakhalin Is, Russia
Magnitude
7.1 (Ms)
Focal depth
11 km (7 mi)
Intensity
9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Epicenter
52.629° N, 142.827° E
Country
Russia

The toll

Deaths
1,989
Injuries
750
Damage
$300 million

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

As many as 1,989 people killed, about 750 injured and severe damage (IX) in the Neftegorsk area. Some damage (VII) occurred at Okha. Felt (VI) at Moskalvo; (V) at Nikolayevsk-na-Amure and Nyvrovo; (IV) at Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinskiy and Nysh. Surface faulting along a northeast-trending fault was observed south of Neftegorsk. (reference #1053)

1989 killed, 750 injured, $300 million damage. (reference #1250)

More

Significant earthquakes of 1995The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1995Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5412.