Multiple strong earthquakes rocked the Pacific Ocean off Russia’s eastern coast late Saturday into Sunday, triggering a brief tsunami watch for Hawaii that was quickly canceled.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the seismic activity began around 6:30 p.m. local time on Sunday when a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck approximately 142 kilometers (88 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city in far eastern Russia. The quake occurred at a depth of 23 kilometers (14 miles), with minimal or no immediate impact on nearby populations.
Roughly 20 minutes later, a more powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the same area at a depth of 19 kilometers (12 miles). This tremor led the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a tsunami watch for the Hawaiian Islands. However, the alert was lifted within ten minutes after it was confirmed there was no tsunami threat.
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The seismic sequence continued with another 6.6-magnitude quake at 7:07 p.m., centered 151 kilometers (94 miles) off Russia’s eastern seaboard at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Just 15 minutes later, a fourth quake, also measuring 6.6 in magnitude, struck 147 kilometers (91 miles) offshore at a depth of 9.4 kilometers (5.8 miles).
The last significant tremor recorded in the series was a 6.0-magnitude quake that struck at 7:26 p.m., also occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers.
USGS data indicates several smaller aftershocks followed, ranging between magnitudes 4.3 and 5.7. Despite the intensity and frequency of the quakes, no fatalities, structural damage, or tsunami impacts were reported as of Sunday morning.
Authorities continue to monitor the region for any further seismic activity.
