A tsunami watch was issued for parts of Russia’s far east after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Kamchatka on Sunday, according to the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center. The quake hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, raising concerns over potential tsunami waves within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter.
Initially reported as a 6.7 magnitude tremor by Germany’s GFZ, the quake was later upgraded to 7.4 by both the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS reported a series of five earthquakes in the region within a short span, all located near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and at similar depths:
Magnitude 6.6 (147 km E)
Magnitude 6.7 (151 km E)
Magnitude 7.4 (144 km E)
Magnitude 6.7 (130 km E)
Magnitude 7.0 (142 km E)
Only the 7.4 magnitude quake, which struck at 08:49 GMT, triggered a tsunami alert. No other tremors in the sequence have prompted similar warnings.
A tsunami watch for Hawaii was also briefly issued following the quake but was later cancelled after assessments showed no threat to the U.S. islands.
So far, no reports of damage or casualties have emerged. Authorities in Russia and global seismic agencies continue to monitor the region for aftershocks and further seismic activity. Emergency services remain on high alert.