PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY — A series of nearly 70 earthquakes has shaken Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka region in the past 24 hours, with 10 of them strong enough to be felt in the regional capital, scientists reported Tuesday, following last week’s powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake.
The Kamchatka office of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences announced on Telegram that seismic activity, while gradually subsiding, remains elevated following the strongest earthquake to hit the area since 1952.
“From midnight Moscow time and until 11 p.m. on August 2, a total of 10 noticeable earthquakes were registered in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. In all, there were over 65 earthquakes,” the statement read.
The initial major quake struck off the coast on July 30, with official Russian authorities recording its magnitude at 8.8, while the Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Service measured it at 8.7. The powerful tremor was followed by multiple aftershocks measuring magnitude 5.0 or higher.
Scientists warn that the aftershock process is expected to continue for several months, despite the gradual decrease in seismic activity.
The regional Health Ministry reported one person injured as a result of the earthquakes. In response to the ongoing seismic events, authorities in Kamchatka Territory have declared a state of heightened alert, while the Severo-Kurilsky District of the neighboring Sakhalin Region has imposed a state of emergency.
The powerful earthquake also triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean, with authorities in Japan, the United States, and the Philippines issuing alerts to coastal communities. No significant tsunami damage has been reported.
Kamchatka, a sparsely populated peninsula known for its numerous volcanoes and pristine wilderness, sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is frequently subjected to seismic activity. However, the magnitude of last week’s earthquake has raised particular concern among scientists and residents alike.
