7.4-magnitude quake rocks Russia’s Kamchatka; tsunami warning issued
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A 7.4-magnitude quake struck off the coast of Kamchatka in Russia's Far East. Photo / USGS
Moscow: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Saturday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor occurred 111 kilometres (69 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the administrative centre of the Kamchatka region, at a depth of 39.5 kilometres.
Following the quake, the Kamchatka Territory government declared a tsunami threat. “The threat of a tsunami has been declared. We ask you to be especially careful when visiting the Khalaktyr beach and other tsunami-dangerous areas,” Governor Vladimir Solodov wrote on his Telegram channel, urging residents to stay calm and follow official updates.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency, cited by NHK World, said the quake may cause minor tidal fluctuations along Japan’s coast but posed no risk of damage there.
The USGS noted that Saturday’s tremor was part of a series of aftershocks following a powerful 8.8-magnitude quake that struck Kamchatka on July 30. That earlier quake also triggered a tsunami alert across parts of the Pacific, with USGS warning of destructive waves reaching Russia and Japan within three hours.
Officials said the July quake had been recorded at a relatively shallow depth of 19.3 kilometres (12 miles), increasing the likelihood of severe surface shaking and potential tsunami waves.
Coastal residents in the affected regions have now been urged to move to higher ground and comply with emergency protocols.
Videos circulating on social media showed intense shaking, rattling furniture, and scenes of panic, as well as structural damage to buildings across Kamchatka. Local reports indicate some infrastructure damage, though full assessments are still under way.
The quake struck near Avacha Bay, an area known for its seismic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — one of the world’s most active tectonic zones.
With IANS inputs