Major Earthquake Hits Near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, Triggers Tsunami Alert

A strong earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on September 19 early morning, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake occurred at 6:58 a.m. (GMT+3), with its epicenter located 127 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of approximately 165,000 residents. The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 19.5 kilometers, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

Video showing the shaking from the (prelim) M7.8 earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia a short while ago... pic.twitter.com/3HVGzxIPwB

— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) September 18, 2025

The powerful tremor triggered a brief tsunami warning, the second-highest alert level, for the Kamchatka region and parts of Alaska. Waves between 30 and 62 centimeters (1 to 2 feet) were recorded along the Kamchatka coastline. Authorities lifted the tsunami warning about two hours later, reporting no damage.

Following the main earthquake, a series of aftershocks rattled the area, with magnitudes reaching up to 5.8. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry reported a slightly lower magnitude of 7.2 for the quake.

Kamchatka’s Governor Vladimir Solodov said emergency services were immediately put on high alert. “This morning once again tested the resilience of Kamchatka’s residents,” he wrote on Telegram. “Rapid inspections of social institutions and residential buildings began right after the earthquake.” So far, no structural damage has been reported.

Online videos showed light fixtures swinging and furniture shaking, while residents gathered outside their homes as a precaution.

This earthquake comes amid a particularly active seismic period for the region. In late July, Kamchatka was rocked by an 8.8-magnitude quake, one of the strongest ever recorded there, which triggered tsunami waves that reached as far as Hawaii and California. Just last week, a 7.4-magnitude quake struck near the Kamchatka coast, prompting a tsunami alert that was later canceled.

Known as the “land of fire and ice,” Kamchatka is located in Russia’s Far East and is famous for its volcanic activity and rugged wilderness. The peninsula lies near a major ocean trench where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates converge, making it one of the world’s most seismically active areas. The region is home to around 300 volcanoes, with 29 still active, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

Earthquakes here are caused by the movement and friction of these tectonic plates, frequently generating powerful seismic events and tsunamis.