On Sunday, a powerful series of earthquakes rocked the Pacific waters off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering a tsunami alert for coastal communities.
The Chinese mainland Earthquake Networks Center reported a magnitude-6.6 quake at a shallow depth of 10 km, followed by an even stronger tremor registering 7.2. These quakes struck within hours of each other in the same seismic hotspot, sending ripples across the Pacific.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warned that \"hazardous tsunami waves are possible\" within a 300-kilometer radius of the epicenter, located off the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Residents and authorities along the coast were urged to stay alert, move to higher ground if needed, and follow updates from local agencies.
Kamchatka sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of intense tectonic activity that generates around 90% of the world’s earthquakes. With shallow quakes more likely to send energy to the surface, coastal areas here face elevated tsunami risks. In 1952, a magnitude-9.0 quake in the Aleutians sent devastating waves across the Pacific.
Modern monitoring networks now deliver rapid alerts. Within minutes of the initial shake, seismic stations in the Chinese mainland, the USGS and global observatories pooled data to assess tsunami threats. Early warnings give communities crucial time to evacuate, but the fast-moving waves can still cause significant damage.
While no major damage has been reported yet, authorities remain on high alert. Mariners and coastal residents in the Russian Far East and neighboring Pacific nations are watching sea levels closely.
We’ll keep you updated on any developments.
Reference(s):
Tsunami alert issued after powerful earthquakes hit off Russia's coast
cgtn.com
