Powerful Earthquake Hits Off Far East Coast Of Russia Though No Early Reports Of Damage

Earthquake Strikes Off Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia

Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warning

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A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 struck off the east coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on August 17, 2023.

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The earthquake occurred at a depth of 51 km and triggered a tsunami warning.

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Tremors were felt in the Far East of Russia, including the cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Vladivostok.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 06:27 UTC (11:27 local time) and had an epicenter approximately 110 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a major port city in the Kamchatka Peninsula.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has issued a tsunami warning for the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands. The warning advises residents to move to higher ground and away from the coast.

Local authorities in Russia are urging residents to follow the tsunami warning instructions and evacuate to designated safe zones. The situation is being closely monitored, and further updates will be provided as they become available.

Earthquakes are common in the Kamchatka Peninsula, which is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped region around the Pacific Ocean that is home to a large number of volcanoes and earthquakes.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is also home to several active volcanoes, including the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, the largest active volcano in Eurasia.

Residents of the Kamchatka Peninsula are advised to be prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis and to follow the instructions of local authorities in the event of an emergency.