Lagatar24 Desk
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: A massive 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Saturday, prompting brief tsunami warnings that were later lifted. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicentre was located 111 kilometres east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the administrative hub of the region, at a depth of 39.5 kilometres.
Tsunami Warning Issued, Then Lifted
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) initially cautioned about “hazardous” waves up to one metre high along nearby Russian shores. However, the threat was later deemed over, with the PTWC confirming that “the tsunami threat has now passed.” The USGS initially reported the quake at 7.5 magnitude before revising it to 7.4.
Region’s Seismic History
Kamchatka is known for frequent seismic activity. In July, the peninsula was shaken by one of the strongest quakes in recent history—a magnitude 8.8 event that triggered tsunamis up to four metres high and caused evacuations as far away as Hawaii and Japan. That event was the most powerful since 2011, when a 9.1-magnitude quake off Japan devastated coastal communities and claimed more than 15,000 lives.
