Kamchatka, Russia: A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East on September 19, identified by the US Geological Survey (USGS) as a powerful aftershock of July’s 8.8 earthquake, which was the strongest in the region in over a century.
The quake was caused by shallow reverse faulting at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to USGS data, and was followed by several aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.8. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry registered the event as a 7.2 magnitude quake.
Authorities immediately issued tsunami warnings across Kamchatka and nearby areas. The Russian Tsunami Center confirmed that waves between 30 and 62 centimeters were recorded on the eastern coast of Kamchatka. The alerts were extended to the Kuril Islands, located north of Japan. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued an advisory for parts of Alaska, though it was later lifted.
Governor Vladimir Solodov reported that emergency services were on high alert, with inspections underway across public facilities and residential buildings. While no structural damage was detected, precautionary checks continued. Solodov commended residents for their resilience and preparedness in handling repeated seismic activity.
Eyewitness videos shared on social media showed strong tremors causing lights to sway, furniture to rattle, and car alarms to activate across multiple towns.
Kamchatka, part of the seismically active Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ frequently experiences major tremors. In the past week alone, the region has recorded at least two quakes above magnitude 7.0. In July 2025, a devastating 8.8 quake struck the area, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami and causing serious flooding in a seaport town.
MOST READ | Delphi-2M: AI gives a health forecast for 1,200 diseases
