Latest news with #AvachaBay
The Sun
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Satellite pics reveal Russian base housing Putin's nuke subs WAS damaged in quake tsunami – with entire pier snapped off
NEW satellite pictures have revealed the base housing Vladimir Putin's prized nuclear submarines was damaged in the recent tsunami. A pier has been snapped in half after being battered by the torrent of water following the monster 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday. 7 7 Rybachiy submarine base in Russia's far east houses Vlad's prized nuclear-armed Borei-class subs. Images taken by Umbra Space reveal that a pier which has been used to host both ships and submarines is now sitting at an angle. That would suggest it has come loose from the wharf it may have been tied to or entirely broken off. If a submarine was sitting next to the pier at the time it could have sustained serious damage. But the pictures are not clear enough with the Kamchatka peninsula covered by cloud on Wednesday and Thursday. The photos also don't clarify whether submarines visible in them were damaged. Putin's prized boats may have smashed up against their piers and wharves as the tsunami came through - damage not visible from a satellite. Also in Avacha Bay is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky naval base and separate missile-loading and shipyard facilities, but it is not known whether they have been damaged yet. The earthquake hit off the coast of Kamchatka just before 1am BST on Tuesday and is the sixth biggest on record. The base was so close to the epicentre that the tsunami is thought to have hit it within 15 minutes. Russian mountains crumble after huge 8.8 earthquake strikes It hit just 75miles southeast of Russia's key naval base in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky that houses its Pacific Fleet. Locals in the village of Severo-Kurilsk in Kamchatka caught video of the resulting tsunami flooding a fish processing factory on the coast. Despite being further away than the base, Severo-Kurilsk was swamped with waves up to five metres high. The local port was inundated with buildings even being moved by the force of the water. 7 7 The Russian Pacific Fleet has some 600 warships and is thought to have five of the Borei class submarines. It also has a couple dozen Soviet-era subs, including the Oscar, Delta, and Kilo classes. The bulk of the fleet is homeported in Vladivostok, 1,400miles to the southwest. Putin will be particularly nervous about its condition given how much of his Black Sea fleet he has lost to Ukraine's bombs. Umbra Space is able to take the photos as it uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites which are able to penetrate cloud cover. The Kremlin announced that no one in Russia had died from the monster earthquake. In nearby Japan, some 2million people were ordered to evacuate from the costs with fears the tsunami could lead to a second Fukushima nuclear disaster. Evacuations were also ordered in Hawaii with waves hitting the islands 1.5m high. 7
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Mystery grows around state of Russian nuclear submarine base after 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked far eastern peninsular
A colossal 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Russia 's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early yesterday morning, which has now raised serious questions about the condition of Russia's key nuclear submarine bases, located alarmingly close to the epicentre. The quake, tied for the sixth strongest in recorded history, struck just 75 miles from Avacha Bay, where some of the Russian Navy's most strategic nuclear assets, including Borei and Delta-class ballistic missile submarines, are based. Though Russian authorities are insisting the situation is under control, with 'no reported fatalities or serious injuries', military analysts and international observers are sounding the alarm over the potential impact on these high-security naval installations. 'I have no information that critical damage to the Russian Navy's naval bases in Kamchatka. I think everything is within the normal range,' said a retired Russian Navy officer who goes by @Capt_Navy on X, adding: 'These bases were designed and built with the possibility of a nuclear attack by the enemy in mind.' Of significance is the proximity of the epicenter to the Russian Pacific Fleet submarine bases around Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Rybachiy and Vilyuchinsk. Just 65 nautical miles. 2/ — Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) July 30, 2025 The Rybachiy submarine base, located within Avacha Bay, is home to the majority of Russia's modern Borei and Borei-A class nuclear ballistic missile submarines - the backbone of Moscow 's strategic deterrent. The older Delta III-class Ryazan (K-44) also remains at the base, although its current status is unclear. While no definitive reports of damage have emerged, online footage shows extensive destruction to civilian infrastructure throughout Kamchatka, including collapsed buildings, damaged ports, and buckled roads. In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, the peninsula's capital and another vital naval hub, a kindergarten collapsed, and several people were injured, according to Russian officials. 'Unfortunately, there are some people injured during the seismic event,' said Oleg Melnikov, the regional health minister. 'Some were hurt while running outside, and one patient jumped out of a window. A woman was also injured inside the new airport terminal.' The Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, one of the most active in the region, has also erupted in the aftermath, compounding fears of further disruption and highlighting the fragility of this volatile corner of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Tsunami warnings were issued across a dozen countries, including Japan, Chile, Peru, and the United States, with waves over 5 feet reported in Hawaii. The UK Foreign Office issued travel warnings for British nationals visiting affected areas. Military analysts are now poring over limited satellite imagery and conflicting reports in an effort to determine what submarines were present in Avacha Bay at the time of the quake. However, overcast conditions in the region have made analysis difficult. Besides the nuclear-armed Borei fleet, the base is home to Yasen-M and Oscar-class guided missile submarines (SSGNs), among the most advanced in the Russian Navy's arsenal. These conventionally-armed vessels pose a significant threat, and their status post-quake is still unknown. There are also reports that Russia's mysterious K-329 Belgorod, the longest submarine in the world, may soon be based in Avacha Bay. The submarine, which can carry nuclear-powered Poseidon torpedoes, is also capable of undersea espionage missions. While the geography of Avacha Bay may have helped shield moored vessels from the worst of the tsunami, even relatively minor surges could be damaging. Experts warn that submarines striking their moorings or flooding via open hatches could cause serious operational issues — especially if vessels were undergoing maintenance. The earthquake struck at 7:24pm EST, around 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatka, and was the strongest globally since Japan's 9.1 megaquake in 2011, which left nearly 20,000 people dead or missing. Today's seismic shock has sent ripples of fear across the Pacific. Japan has ordered nearly two million residents to evacuate coastal areas, while U.S. officials have issued tsunami warnings from California to Oregon. In Hawaii, waves exceeding 5 feet battered Oahu's north shore within minutes of impact. Tourists across the Pacific are being urged to stay vigilant. The UK Foreign Office warned British citizens in the region: 'If you are in the affected areas potentially affected by the earthquake or tsunami you should follow the advice of the local authorities.' Though the immediate tsunami threat has now been declared over by Russian authorities, they warn aftershocks may still pose danger.
