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A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Sunday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning and advise coastal residents to move inland.
The earthquake occurred in Pacific waters 115 kilometers (71.45 miles) from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, according to the Russian Academy of Sciences Geophysical Service. The remote peninsula, located in Russia's far east, is surrounded by the Sea of Okhotsk to the west and the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean to the east.
Following the initial quake, several aftershocks were recorded throughout the day, the geophysical service reported.
Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that the earthquake created a tsunami threat along the peninsula's coastline. "We recommend that residents move away from the coast," the ministry said in a statement.
The Kamchatka Peninsula sits in northeastern Eurasia and is part of the seismically active Ring of Fire, where tectonic plate movements frequently generate earthquakes and volcanic activity.
The region's location along major fault lines makes it particularly susceptible to seismic events.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the peninsula's largest city and administrative center, serves as the regional hub for the sparsely populated territory. The city is home to approximately 180,000 residents and serves as an important naval base for Russia's Pacific Fleet.
No immediate reports of casualties or significant damage were available following the earthquake. The remote location of the epicenter in Pacific waters likely reduced the immediate impact on populated areas.
Tsunami warnings are standard protocol for earthquakes of this magnitude in coastal regions, particularly in the Pacific, where seismic activity can generate dangerous waves that travel across ocean basins.
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