A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia's Kamchatka region early Friday, prompting a brief tsunami warning that was lifted about two hours later, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake hit at 6.58am local time, with its epicentre 127km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of around 165,000 people, at a depth of 19.5km. It was followed by a series of aftershocks of up to 5.8 magnitude.
Russia's emergencies ministry reported a magnitude of 7.2. Governor Vladimir Solodov said all emergency services were placed on high alert, but no damage or casualties were reported. Videos on social media showed light fixtures and kitchen furniture swaying, with residents gathering outside buildings.
The tsunami warning, the second-highest alert level, covered parts of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, with waves of 30-62cm recorded along the coast. The warning also extended to Alaska but was later cancelled.
Kamchatka, known as the 'land of fire and ice', is one of the most volcanically active regions on Earth, with about 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are active. The region lies near an ocean trench where two tectonic plates meet, making it prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.
