Powerful earthquake jolts Russia’s Kuril Islands
Heightened tectonic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire within a week
A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kuril Islands today, according to updated measurements from the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ). The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km, increasing the likelihood of aftershocks.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center both initially assessed the quake at magnitude 7.0, but confirmed that no tsunami warning had been issued.
Emergency services in the Far Eastern Russian territories are monitoring the situation. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, although a kindergarten in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, located in Kamchatka Krai, sustained visible structural damage.
This marks the second major seismic event in the region within a week, raising renewed concerns about heightened tectonic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
