A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Sunday, prompting tsunami warnings both locally and as far as Hawaii. Authorities have since confirmed there is no longer a tsunami threat. While the quake triggered over two dozen aftershocks, no casualties or major damage have been reported so far. Emergency services are monitoring the situation as residents return to normal after hours of tension.
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A disturbing video has emerged showing two powerful earthquakes striking Russia, including a major 7.4 magnitude tremor that prompted a tsunami alert for the Kamchatka Peninsula. The clip shows an apartment violently shaking, with the ceiling trembling intensely while the person filming can be heard expressing their fear.
The Kamchatka Peninsula sits at the boundary where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates collide, making it a prime region for intense seismic activity.
Since the start of the 20th century, the area has experienced seven major earthquakes with magnitudes of 8.3 or greater, resulting in widespread damage.
Notably, on November 4, 1952, a massive 9.0-magnitude quake struck Kamchatka. Despite triggering 30-foot (9.1-meter) tsunami waves reaching as far as Hawaii, remarkably, no deaths were reported.
On July 20, 2025, at 08:49 PM UTC, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck approximately 140 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. The quake was shallow, originating about 10 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. It was recorded by 67 seismic stations managed by the USGS. The event’s mb magnitude reflects a body wave measurement, which is typical for earthquakes of this scale and depth. According to the USGS, earthquakes measuring between 4.5 and 5.9 are considered moderate. This occurrence adds valuable data to the study of seismic activity in the area.
More videos have emerged showing intense shaking caused by the M7.4 earthquake that struck off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia earlier. The footage captures the powerful tremors as they ripple through buildings.
The Kamchatka Peninsula sits at the collision zone of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. Since 1900, the area has witnessed seven massive earthquakes with magnitudes of 8.3 or higher.
Is Pacific Ring of fire waking up. Netizens took to social media after back to back earthquaes hit Russia.
Tsunamis are massive sea waves triggered by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. In the deep ocean, these waves may not appear very tall. However, as they approach the shore and encounter shallower waters, their height increases significantly. The speed at which a tsunami moves is determined by the depth of the ocean, not by how far it is from its origin.
The Ring of Fire, also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path encircling the Pacific Ocean marked by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. This intense geological activity is primarily caused by the interactions of the massive Pacific Plate with the surrounding, less-dense tectonic plates.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy in Russia’s Kamchatka region just 17 minutes ago, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
The quake occurred at 2:43 am local time on Monday, July 21, 2025. It hit at a moderately shallow depth of 40 kilometers beneath the epicenter.
Seismologists have noted that the initial data on the quake’s magnitude, depth, and exact location may be subject to revision as they continue to analyze the event and other agencies release their findings.
Kamchatka lies in a seismically active zone and has experienced major earthquakes before. On November 4, 1952, a massive 9.0 magnitude quake struck the same region, triggering 9.1-meter (30-foot) waves in Hawaii. Despite the scale of that event, no deaths were reported.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a warning of possible major tsunami waves in the region but later downgraded the alert before ultimately announcing that the danger had passed, The Associated Press reported.
Russia’s Emergencies Ministry also issued a local tsunami warning after the strongest quake, urging residents along the coast to keep away from the shore. However, within about two hours, the ministry reportedly said that the threat had subsided and confirmed there were no evacuation plans.
The main quake was followed by several smaller tremors, and Russian geologists reported more than two dozen aftershocks. State media reports suggest that while the aftershocks continued, their strength was gradually decreasing.
The most powerful of the quakes – a magnitude 7.4 – struck in the sea about 144 kilometers (89 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a Russian city of around 180,000 people, Reuters reported. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake occurred at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles).
