Strong M7.4 earthquake hits near the coast of Kamchatka, Russia
A strong M7.4 earthquake struck near the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at 02:37 UTC on September 13, 2025. The quake is aftermath of powerful, tsunami-producing M8.8 quake on July 29.
Epicenter of M7.4 earthquake near the coast of Kamchatka, Russia on September 13, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the epicenter at approximately 111 km (69 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 39.5 km (24.3 miles). The quake was followed by M5.1 earthquake at 06:22 UTC.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a tsunami warning shortly after the quake but cancelled it at 03:48 UTC.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency advised of possible slight sea-level changes along its Pacific coast but assessed the risk of damage as minimal.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and an Orange alert for economic losses. Significant damage is likely, and the disaster is potentially widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Russia. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response.
The population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and unreinforced brick with mud construction.
According to initial reports, there are no confirmed casualties or significant damage in Kamchatka. Russian emergency services continue monitoring coastal settlements for aftershocks and secondary hazards.
This was an aftershock of powerful M8.8 earthquake on July 29, 2025.
The M8.8 earthquake struck at 23:24 UTC, generating a Pacific-wide tsunami and ranking as the sixth strongest earthquake ever recorded instrumentally. The event ruptured a large portion of the Kuril–Kamchatka subduction zone, with ground displacement recorded across southern Kamchatka.
Satellite and geodetic data indicate that southern Kamchatka shifted horizontally by up to 2 m (6.6 feet) during the rupture. The deformation was widespread, with coastal subsidence and uplift altering local topography. Such large-scale displacements are consistent with megathrust events of this magnitude.
The tsunami generated by the earthquake was observed across the Pacific basin. Amplitudes reached 2.7 m (8.9 feet) at Ust-Kamchatsk and 2.4 m (7.9 feet) at Nikolskoye on the Commander Islands. In Japan, tide gauges recorded waves up to 0.4 m (1.3 feet), while Hawaii registered minor fluctuations. Despite the wide distribution, the most severe effects were confined to the Russian Far East.
The Kuril–Kamchatka trench is one of the world’s most seismically active subduction zones. Historical records include the 1952 M9.0 Kamchatka earthquake and tsunami, which caused widespread damage and fatalities across the Pacific.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M7.4 earthquake Kamchatka, Russia – USGS – September 13, 2025
2 M7.4 earthquake Kamchatka, Russia – EMSC – September 13, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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