Moscow (AP) – a A powerful earthquake It struck off the coast of Russia’s Far East coast on Wednesday, flooding fishing ports with waves from the tsunami, cutting electricity to several areas, and panicked residents fled the buildings, but only minor injuries.
Regional authorities say they have been prepared 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake And the subsequent waves moved quickly to keep residents safe. They have introduced emergency situations in some areas but said there was no major damage.
Here’s what you need to know about the Russian region, which was hit by trembling and tsunamis:
Kamchatka Peninsula
Called the “land of fire and ice”, Kamchatka is one of the most active volcanic regions on the planet. According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, there are around 300 volcanoes, of which 29 are still active. Earthquakes and tsunamis regularly attack peninsulas near the sea trench where the two tectonic plates meet.
Nine 1,200-kilometer (750 miles) long time zones east of Moscow face the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Okotsk Sea along the west coast. Some of the populations of Kamchatka and nearby islands are around 290,000, of which approximately 162,000 live in the regional capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, located in Abacha Bay, southeast of the peninsula.
In the image, taken from a video released by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Affairs press, rescuers will inspect kindergartens damaged by the earthquake in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
There are few roads on the peninsula, and helicopters are the only way to reach most areas. Fishing is a major economic activity. The main base for Russian nuclear submarines is located in Abacha Bay.
The tallest volcano is Kraicevskayasopka (4,750 meters or 15,584 feet), the largest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysics Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences, observers heard the explosion and saw the stream of lava on the western slopes.
Scientists have anticipated an eruption for a while, with the volcanic craters being filled with lava for several weeks, and the mountains emitting ash. It last exploded in 2023.
Kuril Islands
The four volcanic islands known in Russia as Kururuz spread between Kamchatka and Japan’s islands in Hokkaido.
The island was captured By the Soviet Union from Japan on the closing day of World War II. Japan claims its territorial rights to the island are called northern territory, and the conflict prevents countries from signing peace treaties
The island has a population of about 20,000 people and the local economy is based on fisheries. The Russian army strengthened its presence in the region and renovated Soviet-era air force bases and other front post bases.
The image, taken from a video released by the Geophysical Services of the Russian Academy of Sciences, shows the tsunami that hit the coastal area of Severoklyksk on Paramasil Island, Kuril Island, Russia, on Wednesday July 30th, 2025.
Quake and the impact of tsunami
Kamchatka and Kurils authorities said they were prepared for major trembling for a long time and acted promptly to protect the population.
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake was attacked at a depth of 21 kilometres (13 miles) at 11:24am (7.24pm EDT on Tuesday) in the area 75 miles from Petropavlovsk-kamchatsky (Tuesday).
The earthquake appeared to be the strongest on record since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of northeastern Japan in March 2011. A giant tsunami. only Some stronger earthquakes It has been measured everywhere.
Kamchatka’s regional authorities said several people were injured, but they did not elaborate. Several injuries occurred during evacuation, including a hospital patient who was injured when he jumped out a window, during the evacuation of the Chief Oleg Melnikov. Everything was in a satisfactory state, he said.
Videos from Russian media showed a doctor in Kamchatka carrying a patient and medical device when the operating room was shaken during surgery. The earthquake damaged the kindergarten at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, but the building had no children and was closed for renovations. City workers inspected about 600 apartments and said evacuation was not necessary.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was protected from the waves of a large tsunami due to its location on Avacha Bay. Emergency workers evacuated about 60 tourists from a black volcanic sandy beach on the Pacific side.
According to the Russian Institute of Oceanography, the tsunami waves could have been 10-15 meters (30-50 feet) in some sections of the Kamchatka coast.
Authorities in Severo-Kurilsk, a major city in Kurils, have evacuated residents deeper inland from the dangerous areas.
Severo-Kurilsk Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov said the tsunami waves flooded the fishing port along with the fish factory, pushing the fishing boats into the sea. The powers were reduced due to floods, and authorities investigated the damage.
Tourists sailing in the seas of Okotsk saw a group of sea lions jumping off a rocky outcrop on Asiferov Island, swimping away as Quake hits.
The sea lions “a very scary and terrible rumble has begun,” said tour organizer Alexander Bogoslovsky, adding that all tourists were safe from the effects of the earthquake and tsunami.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said trembling warnings would be issued in a timely manner, people would be evacuated quickly and the building would withstand the shock.
