7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake was recorded at 6:37 a.m. local time (0237 GMT), with its epicenter located about 112 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital of Kamchatka Krai. It struck at a depth of 39 kilometers.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued an advisory warning of potentially “hazardous” waves within 300 kilometers of the epicenter but later clarified that there was no tsunami threat.

Despite this, Russian authorities issued a precautionary tsunami warning along the Kamchatka coastline, urging residents to stay away from beaches and low-lying areas. Emergency services were placed on high alert.

Officials in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — home to the Russian Navy’s Rybachiy submarine base and Yelizovo airbase — reported no immediate casualties or damage.

The seismically active Kamchatka Peninsula experienced at least five strong tremors on Saturday, with the 7.4-magnitude quake being the most powerful.