Earthquake News: Russia’s Kamchatka hit by 7.8 magnitude quake, tsunami alert issued

Earthquake News: Russia’s Kamchatka hit by 7.8 magnitude quake, tsunami alert issued

Moscow, Sept 19, 2025 
Russia’s far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula was jolted by a powerful earthquake of 7.8 magnitude on Friday morning, spreading panic across the region. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicenter was just 10 km deep, making the tremors intense and widely felt.

Tsunami warning and safety measures

Authorities immediately issued a tsunami alert for coastal areas. The Governor of Kamchatka confirmed that no major casualties or damage have been reported so far, but emergency teams remain on high alert. This region has witnessed frequent seismic activity, with a 7.4 magnitude quake recorded last Saturday.

Why Kamchatka is highly earthquake-prone?

Kamchatka Peninsula lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active zones.

• The 1,200 km-long peninsula is where multiple tectonic plates collide, including the Pacific Plate, the North American Plate, and the Okhotsk Microplate.

• This constant collision triggers powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, earning Kamchatka the title of Russia’s disaster hotspot.

Richter scale explained

• 0–1.9: Detectable only by seismographs

• 2–2.9: Very slight tremors

• 3–3.9: Feels like a heavy vehicle passing

• 4–4.9: Household items may fall

• 5–5.9: Heavy furniture shakes

• 6–6.9: Cracks appear in building foundations

• 7–7.9: Buildings may collapse, large-scale destruction

• 8–8.9: Tsunami threat, massive devastation

• 9 or above: Catastrophic destruction, earth-shaking strongly felt

So far, Kamchatka remains under tsunami watch, with locals urged to remain vigilant.

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