A magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Thursday, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific region including parts of Alaska and Hawaii, with waves up to three metres above standard tide levels possible along some Russian coastlines.
The quake hit 128 kilometres east of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky region at a depth of 10 kilometres below sea level, according to the US Geological Survey, with Russian social media videos showing furniture, light fixtures and parked cars shaking during the tremor.
The US National Weather Service issued multiple tsunami warnings estimating waves could affect coastlines within 1,000 kilometres of the earthquake epicentre, with tsunami threats confirmed for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and Amchitka Pass whilst Hawaii’s tsunami risk remained under assessment in Honolulu and other coastal areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported no hazardous wave threats for American Samoa, Guam, Rota or Saipan, though monitoring continues across Pacific territories.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency forecast “slight sea level changes” across regions stretching from eastern Hokkaido in the north to the Ogasawara Islands east of Taiwan, though no major threats were identified. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov confirmed tsunami warnings for the peninsula’s east coast, stating residents were being alerted though no damage had been reported. “This morning is once again testing the resilience of Kamchatka residents,” Solodov said, urging calm whilst acknowledging the tsunami danger.
The USGS issued alerts for five additional aftershock tremors ranging from magnitude 5.1 to 5.8 within 40 minutes of the initial earthquake, whilst Russia’s state geophysical service estimated a lower magnitude of 7.4 whilst confirming at least five aftershocks. Telegram accounts for the Kamchatka region reported panicked residents fleeing homes during the earthquake, with videos circulating showing the extent of ground movement and structural vibrations across the affected area.
The Kamchatka Peninsula sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic belt surrounding most of the Pacific Ocean known for intense seismic activity. Friday’s earthquake follows a magnitude-8.8 tremor that struck the Russian peninsula in July, also triggering tsunami warnings and evacuations as far as Japan and Hawaii.
