Powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits Russia’s Kurlil Islands again.
MOSCOW: A powerful earthquake with an initial magnitude of 7.0 struck Russia’s easternmost islands on Sunday, a major aftershock that shook the nearby Kamchatka Peninsula, raising fears of a tsunami in the Pacific Ocean.
The latest quake was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), which initially gave the magnitude as 6.35 before revising it. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) later confirmed the quake as a magnitude of 7.0.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat after the quake, downplaying fears of a repeat of the earlier event that triggered mass evacuations.
However, Russian news agencies reported that a temporary tsunami warning had been issued for three districts of Kamchatka as a precautionary measure. Authorities had not reported any casualties or major damage from the latest quake as of the filing of this report.
The Kuril Islands, a volcanic archipelago stretching from Japan’s Hokkaido to Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, lie within the Pacific Ring of Fire – a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
(Daily Ausaf)
Second major quake in less than a week
The quake came shortly after a devastating 8.0-magnitude quake struck off the coast of Kamchatka late Wednesday. The quake, the most powerful in the region’s recent history, prompted a widespread tsunami advisory for parts of the Pacific Ocean basin, including the U.S. West Coast, Japan and the Hawaiian Islands.
The USGS said the epicenter of the earlier quake was about 136 kilometers (85 miles) from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of Kamchatka Krai, and had a depth of 19 kilometers (12 miles). In response, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an emergency alert, warning that dangerous waves could reach heights of up to one meter.
Authorities on Sakhalin Island, southwest of the epicenter, began evacuations as a precaution. Governor Valery Limarenko confirmed that residents had been moved to higher ground due to the potential for tidal waves.
The Japan Meteorological Agency and the US National Weather Service also issued tsunami advisories, covering areas such as Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, parts of California, Oregon and Washington.
Fire activity intensifies
Seismologists say back-to-back earthquakes are not unusual for the region. “This area is one of the most active zones of tectonic movement, and such events are dangerous and part of ongoing geological processes,” a Russian geophysicist told local media.
Although the latest quake did not result in a tsunami, experts have warned residents and coastal authorities to be on the lookout for aftershocks or further seismic activity in the coming days.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry has dispatched assessment teams to remote villages on the Kuril Islands to assess any potential damage or disruption to infrastructure.
Background
The Kuril Islands have long been prone to earthquakes due to the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Okhotsk Plate. The area is sparsely populated, although it holds strategic military and geopolitical importance for Russia.
The recent increase in seismic activity has once again sparked discussions on regional preparedness, including the need to improve early warning systems and raise public awareness.
(Daily Ausaf)