A strong earthquake has struck the eastern part of Russia, prompting a tsunami warning for the area. The earthquake registered a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter Scale and hit the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy near the Kamchatka peninsula. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey. The region is strategically significant for Russia as it is home to the Russian Pacific Submarine Fleet and several airbases.
Notably, the Yelizovo Air Base is situated in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, while the Vilyuchinsk Submarine Base, a crucial Pacific Fleet base, is approximately 20-30 kilometers away in Vilyuchinsk. Additionally, the Sharomy Air Base, a naval air base located about 143 kilometers north of the city, adds to the region’s military importance.
The status of the evacuation of submarines and airplanes remains unknown, and information regarding the overall damage caused by the earthquake is limited at this time. Vladimir Solodov, the governor of Kamchatka, confirmed that all emergency services are on high alert following the tsunami warning issued by Russian authorities.
The US National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii has issued a tsunami advisory post the earthquake. Several countries, including Japan, have been cautioned to prepare for a potential tsunami, with Hawaii residents advised to be vigilant as the impact is expected to reach across the Pacific Ocean.
With a population of 181,000 residents, Kamchatsky is located on the Kuril-Kamchatka Arc, stretching 2,100 kilometers from Hokkaido, Japan, along the Kuril Islands and the Pacific coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. This area is renowned for its high seismic activity, with the largest megathrust earthquake in the 20th century occurring on November 4, 1952, measuring a magnitude of 9.0.
This recent earthquake is the second to hit the Kamchatka peninsula in less than a week. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck in the early hours of Saturday, September 13. The epicenter was reported to be 111.7 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of approximately 39 kilometers. Unlike the previous earthquake, no tsunami warning was issued this time. The recent quake is considered an aftershock to the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in July.
At a depth of around 20 kilometers, this powerful earthquake ranks among the top 10 strongest recorded in history and is the largest worldwide since 2011. It led to tsunami warnings and evacuations in Russia, Japan, and Hawaii, with advisories issued for other countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, as well as distant locations such as New Zealand and Peru.
While last week’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake was less disruptive, it is evident that the earthquake on September 18 was stronger.