The earthquake near Kamchatka struck the Kuril Islands in the Pacific on Saturday, marking yet another powerful quake in the region that has been tense for over two weeks.
Earthquake Near Kamchatka: Second in a Week
The European Mediterranean Seismological Center reported that on Saturday, 9 August, an earthquake of magnitude 6 shook the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. Data indicate the hypocenter was at a depth of 10 km. No information on casualties or damage has emerged. This follows another recent Russian earthquake, with a 6.7‑magnitude shock recorded last Sunday.
Volcano Eruption on Kamchatka
On 3 August, the Kraszeninnikov volcano erupted on Kamchatka. Russian volcanologists noted it was the first eruption in 600 years. Kraszeninnikov lies in the Eastern Mountain range. The series of explosions released ash into the atmosphere at heights up to 6 km, and gray, hot pumice covered part of the Kronos Reserve Biosphere. Rescue services reported no sediment in the lava flow and no ash deposition in nearby villages.
Potent Earthquake in the Pacific
Between late July and early August, Russian research stations recorded numerous quakes and volcano eruptions in the region. On 30 July, a magnitude 8.8 quake struck near Kamchatka, followed by four additional tremors ranging from 5.0 to 6.5, plus hundreds of minor aftershocks. Tsunami warnings were issued in several Asian, North‑American, and South‑American countries. Ocean waves hit Severo‑Kurilsk in Russia, rising above 3 m, with the strongest reaching up to 5 m. The city port and fish factory were flooded. A state of emergency was declared in the area, and waves lifted portions of ships into the water of the Second Kuril Strait.
