Two significant quakes struck offshore Russia's Kamchatka: the initial warning for tsunami threat was later lifted

Two significant earthquakes struck offshore near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Sunday. The larger quake, with a magnitude of 7.4, had its epicenter approximately 115 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, according to the Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 20 km, about 144 km east of the city, which has a population of approximately 180,000. Just minutes earlier, a smaller earthquake measuring 6.7 in magnitude was also recorded nearby.

Following the strong undersea quakes in the Pacific Ocean, residents in several communities across Kamchatka were urged to evacuate to higher ground—30 to 40 meters above sea level—or move at least 2 to 3 kilometers inland due to a potential tsunami threat. The warning was later lifted by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), which confirmed there was no longer a tsunami risk for the region.

Russian media reported that the tremors lasted around a minute and caused panic among residents, prompting many to flee buildings. The regional office of the Ministry of Emergency Situations stated that structural inspections would begin promptly. Emergency services were placed on high alert, although no immediate reports of damage or casualties were available.

Kamchatka is known for its strong seismic activity. On November 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck the region, generating 9.1-meter waves in Hawaii. Despite the destruction, no fatalities were reported.