A powerful underwater earthquake, registering magnitude 7.8 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Friday morning. The quake, located about 127 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, had a shallow depth of roughly 10–20 km, triggering immediate alerts and raising concerns across the region.
Regional authorities initially reported a magnitude of 7.2, but later confirmed the stronger reading. Governor Vladimir Solodov announced that all emergency services had been placed on high alert. Despite the intensity, there were no immediate reports of significant damage.
The earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks, the strongest of which reached about magnitude 5.8. In response, tsunami warnings were issued for the eastern shores of the Kamchatka Peninsula and for parts of the Kuril Islands. Tiny tsunami waves ranging from 30 to 62 centimetres were recorded along various stretches of coastline. The warnings were later rescinded.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and Russia’s Emergencies Ministry monitored the situation closely. Although advisory alerts were broadcast for Alaska, they were also later lifted as data confirmed there was no wider threat.
Experts consider this quake an aftershock of a much larger magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the area in July—one of the strongest the region has experienced in recent years. The geological faulting responsible is described as shallow reverse faulting, a typical mechanism in the subduction-zone environment surrounding Kamchatka.
Residents reported buildings shaking, light fixtures swinging, and alarms triggering as the quake hit. Local officials launched inspections of public institutions and housing to assess structural safety. Although no casualties have been confirmed, the event adds to the ongoing seismic stress in one of Russia’s most earthquake-prone regions.
