Massive 8.8 Quake Strikes Kamchatka, Triggers Tsunami

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake — the strongest in Russia’s Kamchatka region since 1952 — struck southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on Wednesday, followed by tsunami waves up to 4 meters high along the coast, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency

Initially recorded as a 7.1 quake, seismologists later revised it to 8.7–8.8. The epicenter was 149 km from the city at a depth of 17 km. Several strong aftershocks between magnitudes 5.1 and 5.8 followed.

Tsunami warnings were issued across the Kamchatka Peninsula, with waves observed at the Vodopadnaya station and along the Severo-Kurilsk coast, prompting evacuations to higher ground.

Experts warn that more aftershocks up to magnitude 7.5 may occur in the coming weeks. Kamchatka, known for its active volcanoes, is one of Russia’s most seismically active zones.