Satellite images have revealed damage to a floating pier at Russia's Rybachiy nuclear submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsula following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake last week, according to a report by the New York Times.
The images, captured by Planet Labs, show a section of the pier that appears to have broken away from its anchor point. No other major destruction was visible in the satellite imagery. Reuters could not independently verify the report, and Russia's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
The earthquake, one of the most powerful ever recorded, struck off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka coast on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile. It was followed by an eruption of the most active volcano on the peninsula.
Despite the quake's strength, damage was relatively limited due to a successful global disaster response. The worst damage in Russia occurred in Severo-Kurilsk, where a tsunami submerged a local fishing plant and swept debris inland. The initial quake caused only light injuries and limited damage.
The Rybachiy base is a strategic hub for Russia's Pacific fleet, serving as a facility for the maintenance, deployment, and operations of nuclear-powered submarines in the region.
