7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck just off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Sunday, triggering regional tsunami alerts and raising concerns across the Pacific.

The quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to data from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). It followed an earlier tremor in the same area. Initially recorded at 6.7 magnitude, the GFZ later upgraded it to 7.4.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) also reported the quake at 7.4 magnitude, confirming the strength of the seismic activity in Russia’s Far East.

According to Russia's state-run TASS news agency, local emergency services warned that tsunami waves could hit several parts of the region. The Commander Islands’ Aleutsky District, which is sparsely populated, might experience waves as high as 60 cm. Waves reaching 40 cm could affect the Ust-Kamchatsky region, while the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky urban district—the peninsula's most populated zone—might see waves of up to 15 cm.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami watch for Hawaii but later canceled the alert.

While no immediate damage or casualties were reported, authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Kamchatka lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where large quakes and volcanic activity are relatively common.

Residents and coastal communities are urged to stay alert and follow official updates, though experts don’t anticipate large-scale tsunami impacts based on current wave forecasts.

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