A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck near Kamchatka, Russia, causing major damage in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

By Aniket Chakraborty

Aug 1, 2025

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WORLD NEWS 

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The earthquake's epicenter was just 119 km from the city, shaking the region with intense force.

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Tsunami warnings were issued for Russia, Japan, Hawaii, and even as far as Peru and New Zealand.

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Kamchatka sits on the Ring of Fire, a tectonically active region responsible for many of the world’s strongest quakes.

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The earthquake originated from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Okhotsk Plate.

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A subduction zone is where earthquakes can be incredibly large, with the Pacific Plate moving at 75mm per year.

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This earthquake followed a similar 1952 magnitude 9.0 quake in the same zone.

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The tsunami affected coastal communities in Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands, and Japan’s Hokkaido.

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Aftershocks greater than magnitude 7.5 are expected, continuing for weeks or even months.

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Earthquakes like this are rare but serve as a reminder for residents in subduction zones, like New Zealand, to stay vigilant.

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