September 13, 2025

Hold your breath! A mighty 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Kamchatka in Russia's Far East on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) revealed. This powerful quake hit 111 kilometres (69 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the main city of the Kamchatka region, plunging 39.5 kilometres deep into the earth. The USGS initially called it a 7.5 magnitude before dialing it down slightly to 7.4. But the threat is not over. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued an alert saying "hazardous" waves might lash Russian coasts within 300 kilometres of where the ground shook. Just imagine huge waves racing toward the shore, a scary reminder of nature's might! This recent quake echoes memories of July when one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded hit off the Kamchatka peninsula. That massive 8.8 magnitude tremor sent tsunamis soaring as high as four metres (12 feet) across the Pacific Ocean. It caused a wave of panic from Hawaii to Japan, forcing thousands to evacuate to safer lands. In fact, July's quake was the biggest since the catastrophic 9.1 magnitude earthquake in 2011 near Japan, which sparked tsunamis that tragically claimed over 15,000 lives. Back then, nearly two million people in Japan were told to head for higher ground immediately as tsunami warnings swept across the region — warnings later canceled or downgraded once the danger eased. Now, as Earth shudders once more near Kamchatka, the Pacific remains watchful. Will this 7.4 quake stay just a rumble or stir the ocean’s fury again? Only time will tell. Stay alert and stay safe!

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Tags: Kamchatka earthquake, Russia, Usgs, Pacific tsunami warning center, Tsunami warning, Earthquake magnitude,