Powerful 7.8 Quake Strikes Kamchatka, Prompting Tsunami Alert

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Friday morning, shaking buildings and causing a temporary tsunami alert that was subsequently canceled.

The tremor occurred approximately 128 kilometers (80 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the region’s capital, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Footage shared on Russian social media depicted furniture and lighting fixtures swaying inside homes, while other videos captured parked vehicles moving back and forth on the streets.

The local branch of Russia’s state geophysical service reported a slightly lower magnitude of 7.4 and noted that there had been at least five aftershocks.

Initially, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center alerted residents to the potential for dangerous waves along nearby coastlines, but several hours later confirmed that the threat had subsided.

«This morning is once again a test of the resilience of the Kamchatka community,» stated regional Governor Vladimir Solodov on Telegram. «There have been no reports of damage at this time. I urge everyone to stay calm.»

Kamchatka is situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the most seismically active areas in the world.

In July, an earthquake measuring 8.8 off its coast triggered a tsunami that swept through part of a nearby coastal village and prompted emergency warnings across the Pacific.