A massive earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, July 30 registering a powerful magnitude of 8.7, according to the US Geological Survey. Originally measured at 8.0, the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 19.3 km, roughly 125 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a coastal city of about 165,000 residents.
“This was the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced in decades,” said Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov on Telegram, noting that while no major injuries were initially reported, a kindergarten building sustained damage.
Regional health minister Oleg Melnikov told TASS that several individuals required medical attention. Some were injured while rushing outside, one person was hurt after jumping from a window, and another was wounded inside the recently opened airport terminal. Thankfully, all injuries were minor, and patients are currently stable.
The Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences confirmed the quake as one of the most powerful the region has experienced in recent years.
