Strong Earthquake Hits Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, No Damage Reported

Photo: AFP

A strong earthquake struck Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Friday, prompting tsunami warnings, though no damage has been reported. The quake, which occurred in a highly seismic area, measured 7.8 on the Richter scale according to the US Geological Survey. It struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers and was followed by several aftershocks, the largest reaching 5.8 in magnitude.

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry initially reported the earthquake as 7.2 magnitude but later confirmed the higher reading of 7.8. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said that all emergency services were put on high alert. Despite the severity of the quake, no buildings or infrastructure were reported damaged.

A tsunami warning was issued for the eastern coast of the peninsula, which extends into the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Officials recorded tsunami waves ranging from 30 to 62 centimeters at various locations along the coast. A warning was also issued for the Kuril Islands north of Japan, known in Japan as the Northern Territories. Both warnings were lifted after a few hours.

Video footage shared on social media showed light fixtures and kitchen furniture shaking inside homes, and small groups of residents gathering on streets as a precaution. The US National Weather Service and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also issued a tsunami advisory for parts of Alaska, which was later lifted.

Kamchatka is located in a very active seismic zone, and this is not the first strong earthquake in recent months. Earlier in July, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Kamchatka coast triggered tsunami alerts as far away as French Polynesia and Chile, and was followed by an eruption of the region’s most active volcano.

Governor Solodov posted on the messaging app Telegram, saying, “This morning is once again testing the resilience of Kamchatka residents. Immediately after the earthquake, we began a rapid inspection of social institutions and residential buildings.”

The area remains under close watch, with authorities continuing to monitor seismic activity and ensure that residents are safe.