A tsunami threat that had been issued for Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has ended after five powerful earthquakes struck the area on Sunday. The largest quake, with a magnitude of 7.4, was 144 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with a population of 180,000. Smaller quakes were recorded before and after the main event, but their strength has since receded.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning due to the potential for major tsunami waves but later downgraded it. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry also warned residents of coastal settlements to stay away from the shore. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, and the ministry stated that it had no plans to evacuate residents.
The quakes were part of a series of seismic events in the region, which has experienced significant earthquakes in the past. In 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake caused damage but no reported deaths in Kamchatka. The area is located near the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.
The tsunami threat for parts of Russia and Hawaii has ended after several hours, according to the US National Tsunami Warning Center.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-kamchatka-peninsula-earthquakes-tsunami-warning