Tsunami threat, warnings issued as Russian coast struck by series of earthquakes

Tsunami Warning Issued After Earthquakes Strike Kamchatka Peninsula

Residents living along the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia were put on high alert as a series of powerful earthquakes, including a 7.4 magnitude tremor, rattled the region off the Russian coast, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat for the Kamchatka coast in response to the seismic activity.

According to forecasts, there is a possibility of tsunami waves reaching between 0.3 to 1 meters above the tide level along certain areas of the Russian coast.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations urged residents near the earthquake zone not to go to the shore to observe the tsunami under any circumstances. While the ministry assured that the anticipated wave heights were not significant, caution was still advised.

In a statement, the Ministry of Emergency Situations specified that a tsunami wave with a height of no more than 60 cm could reach the Aleutian Municipal District, up to 40 cm for the Ust-Kamchatka Municipal District, and around 15 cm for the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka District.

The alert was triggered by a sequence of significant earthquakes that occurred within a short span off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, as reported by the USGS.

The initial quake, measuring 7.0 magnitude, struck in the sea approximately 142 km east of the city, followed closely by a 6.7 magnitude tremor located 130 km east of the city. Subsequent quakes with magnitudes initially recorded at 7.4, 6.7, and 6.6 occurred in rapid succession, along with several smaller aftershocks in the same area.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also indicated the possibility of smaller tsunami waves affecting Hawaii, Japan, and the Midway Atoll.

Tsunami watches were issued by state and city officials in Hawaii following the alert, but were later lifted, according to the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

“Tsunami Watch Issued – Prepare to Act! A Tsunami Watch means a tsunami is possible, but the situation is still being evaluated,” the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management shared on social media prior to the cancellation of the alert.

ABC News’ Jessica Gorman contributed to this report.