A tsunami alert was raised on Sunday, July 20, 2025, after a powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 7.4 rocked the Pacific seabed off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed
KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
The tremor struck at a depth of about 20 kilometres, roughly 144 km east of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky, a regional hub with some 180,000 inhabitants
Earlier reports indicated a second quake of magnitude 6.7 hit the same vicinity just minutes before the stronger shock, prompting authorities to double down on safety warnings
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center quickly issued alerts for coastal zones in and around Kamchatka, cautioning that the undersea quake could trigger hazardous waves
Officials are now keeping a close watch on the coastal communities, particularly in and around Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky, as the region lies within the notorious Pacific “Ring of Fire” — a known hotspot for seismic and volcanic activity
Emergency services have been put on standby, with residents urged to follow all official advisories and move to higher ground where necessary
So far, there’s no confirmation of damage or loss of life, but authorities warn that further tremors or tsunami waves remain possible. Areas off the Russian coast—and potentially more distant shores—are on high alert until the situation stabilises
