Tsunami Threat Over After Large Earthquakes Hit Russia’s Pacific Coast

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says there is no longer a danger of tsunami waves on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula after five powerful quakes, the largest with a magnitude of 7.4, struck in the sea nearby today.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the largest quake was at a depth of 12 miles and was 89 miles east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had earlier issued a warning for Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula after two quakes struck in the sea nearby today.

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.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, and the ministry said it had no immediate plans to evacuate residents.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System too has issued a Tsunami threat off the Kamchatka coast, adding that Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 meters above the tide level are possible for some coast of Russia.

However, it was cancelled shortly afterwards.

Russia's state-run TASS news agency later reported that a tsunami warning for Kamchatka was also lifted, citing local emergency services.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located in the Kamchatka region, facing the Pacific, northeast of Japan and west of the US state of Alaska, across the Bering Sea.

Source: Al Jazeera | ABC News | Reuters