A powerful earthquake has struck eastern Russia, triggering a tsunami warning for the area.
The earthquake registered a significant 7.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale and hit the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy near the Kamchatka peninsula. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles) as reported by the US Geological Survey. This region holds strategic importance for Russia, hosting the Russian Pacific Submarine Fleet and several airbases.
Notably, the Yelizovo Air Base is situated in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with the Vilyuchinsk Submarine Base, a key Pacific Fleet base, located approximately 20-30 km away in Vilyuchinsk. Additionally, the Sharomy Air Base, a naval air base positioned about 143 km north of the city, is also in the vicinity.
The status of evacuation procedures for submarines and airplanes remains unknown, and details regarding the extent of damage caused by the earthquake are scarce at present.
Kamchatka’s governor, Vladimir Solodov, has confirmed that all emergency services are on high alert, with a tsunami warning in effect by Russian authorities.
The US National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii has issued a tsunami advisory post the earthquake. Various countries, including Japan, have been cautioned to prepare for possible tsunami effects, with warnings extending across the Pacific, particularly to Hawaii residents.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with a population of 181,000, is located on the Kuril-Kamchatka Arc, stretching 2,100 km from Hokkaido, Japan, along the Kuril Islands and the Pacific coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Kuril-Kamchatka Arc is recognized as one of the most seismically active regions globally, with the most significant megathrust earthquake in the 20th century occurring on November 4, 1952, measuring 9.0 magnitude.
This recent earthquake is the second to hit the Kamchatka peninsula in less than a week. The US Geological Survey confirms that it struck on Saturday, September 13, with the epicenter located 111.7 km (69.3 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of approximately 39 km (24 miles).
Unlike the previous event, no tsunami warning was issued this time. The recent earthquake is considered an “aftershock” to the massive 8.8 magnitude quake that struck the region weeks ago.
With a depth of around 20 kilometers, this powerful quake ranks among the top 10 strongest recorded in history and is the most significant since 2011 globally. The earthquake prompted tsunami warnings and evacuations in Russia, Japan, and Hawaii, with advisories issued for other countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Peru.
While last week’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake seemed less disruptive, the earthquake on September 18 was reportedly stronger.