A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near Kamchatka Saturday, with the epicenter located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 108 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of around 6 km. The earthquake was felt in the regional capital, with magnitudes up to six.
Seismologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences warn of an increased likelihood of an even more powerful earthquake, potentially reaching up to 9.0 magnitude, in the Kamchatka region within the next two days.
Saturday's earthquake caused the Shiveluch volcano, one of the largest active volcanoes in Kamchatka, to erupt, with an ash column spreading 492 km southeast, leading to a "red" aviation danger code in the region.
The Ebeko volcano on the Kurile Islands also erupted, spewing ash 2.5 kilometers high, following the quake.
The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service's Tsunami Warning System did not expect a tsunami for the northwest coast of the United States and Alaska as a result of the earthquake.
Kamchatka, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, has experienced around 60 significant volcanic eruptions in the last 10,000 years due to its intense seismic and volcanic activity. It houses approximately 160 volcanoes, with only around 20 currently active.
Similar strong earthquakes have occurred in Kamchatka in the past, resulting in casualties and tsunamis. In 1952, a submarine earthquake of 9 Richter magnitude caused a tsunami with thousands reported dead.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Bankingnews.gr, Athensmagazine.gr , Aftodioikisi.gr, Newsbomb.gr, Ntdtv.com, Exbulletin.com, Foxweather.com, Radiolaprimerisima.com, Noi.md.