MOSCOW (BN24)— A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck early Saturday near the eastern coastline of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 111.7 kilometers (69.3 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 39 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface.
While the tremor prompted initial tsunami concerns, the Pacific Tsunami Warning System later withdrew its alert. The Japan Meteorological Agency noted that while slight sea level changes were possible in coastal zones, the risk of significant damage remained low.
As of early Saturday, no injuries or major property damage had been reported. The seismic event is one of five powerful earthquakes to impact the region on July 20, with this one being the most intense in magnitude.
Kamchatka, a volcanically active region in Russia’s Far East, frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
