RUSSIA ROCKED: Powerful 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Kamchatka Region, Triggers Tsunami Alert and Widespread Panic
- A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck Russia’s Far East region, sparking a tsunami alert and sending shockwaves of fear through the community.
- The quake, described as an “aftershock” from a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in July, triggered a series of tsunami warnings and prompted a frantic response from emergency services.
- Despite waves reaching some shores, there were no reports of damage, but the region remains on high alert as officials scramble to assess the situation.
- Kamchatka regional Governor Vladimir Solodov warned that the quake was a test of the region’s resilience, as emergency services sprang into action to inspect social institutions and residential buildings.
The powerful earthquake struck the Kamchatka region in Russia’s Far East on Friday, causing widespread panic and triggering a tsunami alert. The quake, which was followed by a series of aftershocks measuring up to 5.8 magnitude, was caused by “shallow reverse faulting” at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles), according to the US Geological Survey.
“This morning is once again testing the resilience of Kamchatka residents,” Vladimir Solodov wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “Immediately after the earthquake, we began a rapid inspection of social institutions and residential buildings.”
Videos uploaded to social media captured the terrifying moment of the quake, showing people’s light fittings shaking, furniture rattling, and cars parked in the street rocking while their security alarms sounded. The footage was a stark reminder of the region’s seismic activity, with at least two quakes with a magnitude greater than 7.0 occurring in the past week.
A tsunami warning was issued for the eastern shore of the peninsula, jutting far out into the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean, and for parts of the Kuril island chain, north of Japan. The warning was later lifted, but not before prompting a frantic response from emergency services.
The US National Weather Service and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also issued a tsunami advisory for parts of Alaska following the quake, but the warning was later lifted. The region remains on high alert, however, as officials continue to assess the situation and provide support to affected communities.