Karmactive Staff
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Friday morning local time (06:58 PETT; 18:58 UTC Thursday), sending shockwaves through the region but causing no immediate damage.
The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers beneath the ocean floor, about 127 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The earthquake happened at 8:58 a.m. Hawaii time and triggered a local tsunami warning in Kamchatka and a tsunami advisory for Alaska, with no threat to Hawaii.
Wave heights of 30 to 62 centimeters reached various points along Kamchatka’s coastline, but the modest size meant no serious flooding occurred.
Governor Vladimir Solodov placed all emergency services on high alert immediately after the tremor. “This morning is once again testing the resilience of Kamchatka residents,” he wrote on social media. Teams began rapid inspections of schools, hospitals, and apartment buildings right after the shaking stopped.
The earthquake represents another aftershock from July’s massive 8.8 magnitude event that rocked the same area. That summer quake was one of the strongest ever recorded and sent tsunami warnings as far as French Polynesia and Chile. It also caused the peninsula’s most active volcano to erupt.
Scientists describe Thursday’s event as “shallow reverse faulting” – technical terms that explain how the ocean floor suddenly shifted upward along the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone. This type of movement happens when one massive piece of Earth’s crust slides beneath another, a common occurrence in the Ring of Fire region.
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The shallow depth made the earthquake particularly efficient at generating tsunamis, even though the waves remained relatively small. When earthquakes occur close to the surface under water, they push more water upward, creating larger waves than deeper events of similar strength.
Multiple aftershocks followed the main event, with the largest measuring 5.8 magnitude. Residents shared videos on social media showing light fixtures swaying and kitchen items sliding during the shaking. Small groups gathered on streets as buildings moved back and forth.
Tsunami advisories initially covered parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, including areas near Shemya, but officials canceled these warnings within hours. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no threat existed for Hawaii or other Pacific islands.
Russian emergency officials first estimated the earthquake at 7.2 magnitude but later revised their measurement upward to match the U.S. Geological Survey’s 7.8 reading. Such differences are normal as scientists analyze more seismic data and refine their calculations.
The Kamchatka Peninsula sits in one of Earth’s most earthquake-prone regions, located along the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone. The region has experienced at least two earthquakes with magnitude greater than 7 in the past week. The 1952 Kamchatka earthquake reached magnitude 9.0 and remains a key reference point for understanding the area’s seismic potential.
After July’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake, scientists warned that large aftershocks would continue for months. Thursday’s event confirms those predictions, as earthquake sequences typically include multiple strong tremors following a major rupture.
Emergency teams continue monitoring the region for additional seismic activity. Residents have been reminded to stay prepared for future shaking, as the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone remains highly active following this summer’s massive earthquake.
The quick response and lack of damage show the region’s experience in dealing with frequent seismic activity.
