articleThis photo taken on June 2, 2024 shows the cityscape of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Kamchatka, Russia. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua via Getty Images)
MOSCOW – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says there is no longer a tsunami threat to Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula after five powerful undersea earthquakes, the strongest measuring 7.4 in magnitude, struck nearby on Sunday.
The backstory:
The largest quake was at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles) and was 144 kilometers (89 miles) east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
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Smaller — but still substantial — quakes were recorded before and after. Russian state media said, citing local geologists, that over two dozen aftershocks had hit Kamchatka. It added their strength was gradually receding.
What they’re saying:
The PTWC initially said there was a danger of major tsunami waves but later downgraded its warning before finally saying the danger had passed.
Russia’s Emergencies Ministry also issued a tsunami warning following the largest quake, urging residents of coastal settlements to stay away from the shore.
Dig deeper:
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, and the ministry said it had no plans to evacuate residents. Just over two hours later, it reported that the danger had passed.
On Nov. 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka caused damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-meter (30-foot) waves in Hawaii.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. Information in this story comes from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Russia’s Emergencies Ministry. This story was reported from Los Angeles.