A tsunami warning was lifted on Sunday after a powerful earthquake struck off Russia’s Far East coast. Officials confirmed that the waves did not pose a threat to coastal areas.
Earlier, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a tsunami alert following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake at 08:49 GMT. This was the strongest in a series of quakes in the northern Pacific Ocean.
The USGS expected waves between 30 centimetres and one metre along parts of the Russian coast. It also predicted smaller waves in Japan and Hawaii, measuring under 30 centimetres.
Authorities respond quickly and advise precautions
Later in the day, the Russian Emergencies Ministry announced that the tsunami threat had passed. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov confirmed that no abnormal waves had reached populated areas.
However, he urged residents to remain cautious due to the risk of aftershocks. These smaller quakes often follow major seismic events and can lead to further movement underground.
Authorities advised people living near the coast to move to higher ground. If no elevation was available, they recommended moving two to three kilometres inland.
Region prone to seismic activity
The epicentre of the earthquake was located about 150 kilometres east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This city lies on the Kamchatka Peninsula, one of Russia’s most seismically active regions.
The USGS also reported a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. In addition, several earlier tremors had occurred, with magnitudes of 5.5 and 6.7. Two more followed later, measuring 6.7 and 6.3.
The Russian Geophysical Service stated that the main quake occurred at a depth of five kilometres. The Kamchatka Peninsula sits where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates meet, making the region a frequent site of large earthquakes. Since 1900, it has experienced at least seven earthquakes above magnitude 8.3.
Meanwhile, local authorities issued tsunami alerts for the Aleutsky and Ust-Kamchatsky districts, along with Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. They estimated waves up to 60 centimetres in Aleutsky, 40 centimetres in Ust-Kamchatsky, and 15 centimetres in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
In addition, emergency services inspected local infrastructure. Governor Solodov reported that hospitals had been checked, and inspections of schools and public buildings were ongoing. So far, there have been no signs of major damage.
