Earthquake of 7.4 magnitude strikes off Russia's Kamchatka region - Reuters

Earthquake of 7.4 magnitude strikes off Russia's Kamchatka region - Reuters

A significant earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka region on Sunday, July 20, 2025. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was part of a series of powerful tremors that occurred within a short span of time. The quake, along with two others of magnitude 6.7 and 6.6, was recorded off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with a population of over 163,152 people [1].

The USGS reported that the initial quake had a magnitude of 7.4, followed by two more tremors of magnitude 6.7 and 6.6. The city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located in the Kamchatka Region, facing the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Japan and west of the US state of Alaska. The earthquakes were followed by three aftershocks, with one registering a magnitude of 6.6 [1].

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat for parts of Russia, including the Kamchatka Peninsula, and a separate tsunami watch was issued for the state of Hawaii. The forecast predicted tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 meter above the tide level for some coasts of Russia [2]. State and city officials in Hawaii also issued tsunami watches, advising residents to prepare for possible tsunamis [2].

The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) confirmed the magnitude of the quakes, initially reporting a magnitude of 6.7 for the first quake, which was later updated to 7.4. Another quake of magnitude 6.7 was also recorded, followed by a 7.4 magnitude quake [3, 4]. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) also reported the quakes, with the second quake initially measured at 7.4 magnitude [4].

The series of earthquakes is a reminder of the ongoing seismic activity in the region. The Kamchatka Peninsula is known for its high level of seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The earthquakes and the resulting tsunami warnings highlight the importance of preparedness and emergency response planning in such areas.

References:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/20/tsunami-alert-after-powerful-earthquakes-hit-russias-pacific-coast-2
[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/tsunami-threat-warnings-issued-russian-075600918.html
[3] https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/twin-earthquakes-over-65-magnitude-strike-off-russias-kamchatka-region-gfz-says-2025-07-20/
[4] https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/several-earthquakes-above-60-magnitude-strike-off-russias-kamchatka-region-2025-07-20/