Overview

• A rapid succession of earthquakes struck off Kamchatka Peninsula on July 20, starting with magnitude 5.0 and 6.7 shocks before a 7.4 mainshock at 06:49 UTC and a 6.6 aftershock minutes later.
• Tsunami watches were issued for coastal areas of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and Hawaii by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and US National Tsunami Warning Center but were canceled within hours when no dangerous waves were observed.
• Seismic monitoring agencies including USGS, GFZ and EMSC coordinated initial readings and promptly upgraded the mainshock’s reported magnitude from 6.7 to 7.4.
• Russia’s Emergencies Ministry reported no casualties or significant damage following the quakes along the sparsely populated eastern coastline.
• Aftershocks continue to be tracked in this volatile zone on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where subduction of the Pacific Plate drives frequent major earthquakes.