Detailed Information about the Kamchatka Earthquake
A powerful earthquake struck Kamchatka yesterday, July 30, 2025.
Key Incident Details:
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Date and Time:
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The main shock occurred on July 30, 2025, at 11:24:50 UTC+12:00 (local Kamchatka time).
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This corresponds to 02:24 AM Moscow time (MSK).
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Residents of Kamchatka first felt tremors around 2:44 AM MSK.
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One source indicates the first noticeable tremor happened around 11:30 AM local time.
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Magnitude: Various estimates place the main shock’s magnitude between 8.7 and 8.8 Mw (moment magnitude), making it the strongest in the region since 1952. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) classified it as the largest natural disaster globally since 2011.
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Epicenter and Hypocenter Depth: The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 126-150 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The hypocenter (focus) was at a depth of 17-20 km.
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Consequences:
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Tsunami Threat: A tsunami threat was issued for the entire Pacific region, including Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, Japan, Alaska, Hawaii, Indonesia, Mexico, Chile, and Peru. Waves measuring 3-4 meters were recorded in the Yelizovsky District of Kamchatka. In Severo-Kurilsk, the tsunami flooded the city port and the “Alaid” fish processing plant, sweeping part of the small fleet out to sea.
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Damage and Injuries:
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Reports indicate localized damage: a kindergarten wall collapsed, and the city’s children’s polyclinic was damaged (its operation has been suspended).
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Several people sustained minor injuries, mostly during evacuation attempts or from falling objects (e.g., a woman at the airport). No fatalities have been reported.
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A state of emergency was declared in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the Severo-Kurilsky District of Sakhalin Oblast.
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Aftershocks: Numerous aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 5.1 to 5.9 were recorded after the main earthquake.
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This earthquake represents a significant seismic event for the region.
