A potent earthquake, measured between magnitude 7.4 and 8.7, struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early this week, sparking tsunami alerts across the Pacific region. The main tremor occurred approximately 144 km east of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky at a depth of 10–20 km.

Prior to the major quake, the region experienced earlier tremors registering around 6.6 and 6.7 in magnitude. Authorities issued tsunami warnings for coastal areas within a 300 km radius, including parts of Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska. Waves up to 3 meters were anticipated in some regions.

Local emergency services in Kamchatka advised residents to move away from the shore and climb to higher ground. Sirens sounded across coastal towns and partial evacuations took place in vulnerable zones.

As aftershocks continued, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center eventually lifted the alert, confirming the danger had passed without causing reported damage or fatalities.

Kamchatka remains one of Earth’s most active seismic zones, located at the convergence of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. This isn't the first time the region has rattled the globe—historically, it has recorded multiple major earthquakes including a 9.0‑magnitude event in 1952, which triggered devastating tsunamis as far away as Hawaii.