Earthquake Jolts Russia's Kamchatka

(MENAFN) A massive earthquake measuring 8.8 in magnitude jolted the sea near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, prompting tsunami alerts throughout the Pacific region, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The tremor’s origin was pinpointed at a depth of 20.7 kilometers (12.8 miles), located roughly 119 kilometers (73.9 miles) to the east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the agency reported.

Due to its shallow depth and high intensity, the seismic event was strong enough to potentially produce tsunami waves.

Kamchatka’s regional leader, Vladimir Solodov, commented via Telegram that the quake "was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," emphasizing the rare severity of the incident.

Several individuals sustained injuries in Kamchatka as a result of the earthquake, according to regional health chief Oleg Melnikov, who spoke with a Russian official news service.

"All patients are in satisfactory condition. No serious injuries have been recorded at the moment," Melnikov was quoted as stating.

Authorities issued a mandatory evacuation for the coastal town of Severo-Kurilsk, situated in the Sakhalin region, in response to the tsunami threat.

According to a news agency, citing information from Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry, tsunami waves swept through areas of Severo-Kurilsk following the powerful earthquake.

MENAFN30072025000045017167ID1109860483