Strong Quake Strikes Russia’s Kamchatka, Tsunami Alert Lifted

A powerful earthquake struck off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka peninsula early Friday, shaking buildings and briefly prompting a tsunami warning.

The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 7.8, centered 128 kilometers (80 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles). Russia’s geophysical service put it lower, at 7.4, and reported at least five aftershocks.

Videos on Russian social media showed homes rattling, light fixtures swaying, and even parked cars rocking on the streets.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of hazardous waves along nearby coastlines, but lifted the alert hours later.

“This morning is once again testing the resilience of Kamchatka residents,” regional governor Vladimir Solodov said on Telegram. “There are currently no reports of damage. I ask everyone to remain calm.”

Kamchatka, part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is one of the world’s most seismically active regions. In July, an 8.8-magnitude quake off its coast triggered a tsunami that swept part of a coastal village into the sea and set off Pacific-wide alerts.