Moscow: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday morning, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific region, including alerts for Russia, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam.
According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the quake occurred at 04:54:56 IST, at a depth of 55 kilometers, centered at latitude 52.56°N and longitude 160.10°E.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter was located 136 kilometers east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a major city on the peninsula. The quake is believed to have been caused by shallow reverse faulting due to the west-northwest movement of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate at a rate of approximately 77 millimeters per year.
The earthquake occurred along the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone, a region known for frequent seismic activity. Shallow earthquakes like this one are typically more hazardous, as their seismic energy reaches the surface more rapidly, often resulting in stronger shaking and increased potential for damage and casualties.
In response to the quake, the US National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Tsunami Advisory for parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands—from Attu to Samalga Pass. The advisory also warned of a potential tsunami threat to Japan and Russia, with forecast wave heights reaching up to 1 meter in Japan and possibly exceeding 3 meters along Russia’s eastern coast.
Additionally, a Tsunami Watch was put in effect for Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, although no immediate evacuations were announced.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed the possibility of 1-meter-high tsunami waves reaching its shores, according to local media reports from Kyodo News.
Authorities across the Pacific continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents in affected coastal areas to stay alert and follow official guidance as tsunami models are update
