A strong earthquake has shaken eastern Russia, prompting a tsunami alert for the area. The earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale, struck the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy near the Kamchatka peninsula with significant force. The US Geological Survey reported the quake’s depth at 10 km (6.21 miles). The region is of strategic importance to Russia, housing the Russian Pacific Submarine Fleet and several airbases.
Notably, the Yelizovo Air Base is situated in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, while the Vilyuchinsk Submarine Base, a key Pacific Fleet facility, is 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, adds to the military presence in the region.
There is uncertainty regarding the evacuation of submarines or airplanes in response to the earthquake, and details on the extent of damage caused are limited at present. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov confirmed that all emergency services are on high alert with a tsunami warning in effect.
The US National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii issued a tsunami advisory following the earthquake. Countries, including Japan, have been cautioned to prepare for potential tsunamis, with Hawaii residents advised to stay vigilant. The impact is anticipated to reach across the Pacific Ocean.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with a population of 181,000, is situated on the Kuril-Kamchatka Arc, stretching 2,100 km from Hokkaido, Japan, along the Kuril Islands and the Pacific coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. This arc is known for its high seismic activity, with the largest megathrust earthquake in the 20th century measuring 9.0 magnitude on November 4, 1952.
This recent earthquake is the second to hit the Kamchatka peninsula in less than a week, occurring in the early hours of Saturday, September 13, according to the US Geological Survey. It follows a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake, the sixth strongest ever recorded in the region. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be 111.7 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of approximately 39 km.
Unlike the previous event, no tsunami warning was issued this time. The recent earthquake is considered an “aftershock” of the earlier 8.8 magnitude quake that originated off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in July.
With a depth of around 20 kilometers, the powerful earthquake ranks among the top 10 strongest quakes in history and is the largest globally since 2011. The event triggered tsunami alerts and evacuations in Russia, Japan, and Hawaii, with advisories issued for other countries as well.
While the 7.4 magnitude earthquake last week was less disruptive, tonight’s (September 18) quake was reported to be stronger.