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Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Borneo Post
Strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Sulawesi, tremors felt in Tawau, Lahad Datu
The earthquake with a depth of 131km occurred about 120km west of Gorontalo. — Map from United States Geological Survey KUALA LUMPUR (July 24): A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck the Minahassa Peninsula in Sulawesi, Indonesia at 4.50am today, the Malaysian Meteorological Department reported. It said in a statement that the earthquake with a depth of 131km occurred about 120km west of Gorontalo, Indonesia. It also said that tremors were felt in Tawau and Lahad Datu, Sabah. However, there is no tsunami threat to Malaysia, it added. — Bernama earthquake Minahassa Peninsula
Herald Sun
4 days ago
- Climate
- Herald Sun
Tsunami warning issued after huge earthquake off the coast of Russia
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. A tsunami alert has been issued after multiple earthquakes struck off the coast of Russia. The strongest of those quakes, which were measured in quick succession, came in at 7.5-magnitude on the Richter scale. A tsunami was in effect for the American state Hawaii, which is located in the northeast Pacific Ocean, but has since been withdrawn. Alerts were also issued for Guam and American Samoa, but those have been rescinded as well. Alerts remain in effect for Russia. According to the United States Geological Survey, there were three earthquakes in quick succession. The first was at 5.0-magnitude, the second at 6.7, and the last at 7.4, which was a fraction higher according to other measurements. The USGS warned that 'hazardous tsunami waves are possible' within 300 kilometres of the epicentre in the Pacific, off the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. That city has a population of about 160,000 people. The USGS reports expected wave heights of 30 centimetres to one meter along Russian coasts, and less than 30 centimetres in Japan and Hawaii. The Kamchatka peninsula is the meeting point of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, making it a seismic hot zone. Since 1900, seven major earthquakes of magnitude 8.3 or higher have struck the area. The initial earthquakes were followed by several aftershocks. The Kamchatka peninsula is the meeting point of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, making it a seismic hot zone. - with AFP Originally published as Tsunami warning issued after huge earthquake off the coast of Russia
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Tsunami watch lifted after three powerful Earthquakes struck Russia within 32 minutes?
A tsunami watch issued for the Hawaiian Islands was lifted late Sunday night after a powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 7.5 struck off the eastern coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), available seismic and oceanic data did not indicate a tsunami threat to Hawaii, providing relief to residents and emergency response teams who had been on alert. The watch, which was issued at 9:03 p.m. local time following the initial tremor, was officially canceled at 9:42 p.m. The cancellation followed a series of rapid evaluations and updates from monitoring centers, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which had detected multiple tremors in the seismically active Russian Far East, as per a report by Hawaii News. 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The strongest among them, initially reported as magnitude 7.4 but later updated to magnitude 7.5, struck at a depth of approximately 20 kilometers. Two additional tremors, measuring magnitudes 6.7 and 5.0, respectively, were recorded in the same offshore zone, as per a report by Hawaii News. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The epicentres were located roughly 140 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a coastal city that serves as the administrative capital of Kamchatka Krai, a remote but strategically significant region facing the Pacific Ocean. The area has a population exceeding 160,000 and is part of one of the world's most volatile seismic belts. Germany's GFZ seismic monitoring center also corroborated the activity, initially detecting a magnitude 6.7 earthquake and later revising it to 7.4. No casualties or significant structural damage have been reported as of the latest updates, although assessments in remote and rugged regions often take longer to complete. Live Events How Tsunami Watches and Warnings Work The tsunami watch issued for Hawaii was precautionary, stemming from early seismic readings that suggested a possibility of oceanic disturbance. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which oversees the region, rapidly analyzed data to determine the extent of the threat. 'When an earthquake of such magnitude occurs, the first step is to evaluate whether vertical displacement of the seafloor occurred — a key factor in tsunami generation,' PTWC scientists explained, as quoted in a report by Hawaii News. The messaging system adopted by the PTWC classifies risk levels as follows: Tsunami Watch: Issued when conditions indicate a possible tsunami. No immediate action is necessary, but residents are advised to prepare and monitor alerts. Tsunami Advisory: Signals that a tsunami with strong currents or waves is possible. People are advised to stay off beaches and away from coastal waterways. Tsunami Warning: Issued when significant coastal flooding or life-threatening waves are expected or imminent. Evacuation orders may follow. In Sunday's case, the initial tsunami watch was issued purely based on the preliminary seismic readings. Subsequent wave propagation modeling and sea-level monitoring confirmed no significant threat to Hawaiian shores. Earthquake in Russia Highlights Kamchatka's Seismic Vulnerability The Kamchatka Peninsula is a known hotbed for tectonic activity. Positioned at the convergent boundary of the Pacific and North American plates, the region has recorded several high-magnitude earthquakes over the past century. According to USGS archives, at least seven earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 8.3 have been recorded since 1900. A particularly notable event occurred on November 4, 1952, when a magnitude 9.0 quake struck the same region. That event unleashed waves as high as 9.1 meters (30 feet) that traveled across the Pacific and reached Hawaii. Although infrastructure was damaged, fatalities were avoided. 'Given its tectonic setting, the Kamchatka region remains under constant seismic scrutiny,' said Dr. Michael Amador, a geophysicist with the USGS. 'What's unusual is not the occurrence of these quakes, but rather the sequence and proximity of multiple significant tremors within a short duration.' No Immediate Danger to U.S. Pacific Territories The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center also monitored the situation closely. While a localized tsunami warning was issued for parts of Russia's Pacific coastline, the center confirmed that U.S. territories across the Pacific — including Alaska, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands — faced no immediate danger. Alaska, in particular, maintains high tsunami awareness due to its geographic and geological proximity to tectonic boundaries. The state operates a robust emergency alert system, with sirens and automatic alerts across vulnerable coastal areas. Nevertheless, Sunday's quake activity remained confined to the western Pacific. Lessons from Past Events and the Importance of Vigilance While Sunday's event did not result in a tsunami, it underscored the importance of early warning systems and public readiness. 'The time between an offshore earthquake and potential wave landfall can range from minutes to hours,' said emergency preparedness officer Lisa Nakamoto in Honolulu. 'Which is why even precautionary watches like this serve a vital purpose.' Officials in Hawaii praised the rapid coordination between international seismic agencies, the National Weather Service, and local emergency management teams. 'Within 40 minutes, we went from potential threat to no concern. That's the power of data and preparedness,' said Nakamoto. Pacific Ring of Fire: Constantly Under Threat The broader region known as the Pacific Ring of Fire — a horseshoe-shaped zone around the Pacific Ocean — accounts for roughly 90 percent of the world's earthquakes. Countries along this volatile belt include Japan, the Philippines, Chile, and the United States' west coast. With increasing urbanization along coasts, experts stress that public awareness and investments in early warning infrastructure remain essential. 'Sunday's event is a reminder that while the Earth's movements are beyond our control, how we respond to them is not,' said Dr. Amador. Earthquake Hawaii: No Local Activity but Heightened Awareness Although the quake was centered near Russia, the initial tsunami watch triggered brief concern across the Hawaiian Islands. Seismically, Hawaii does experience occasional tremors, mostly of volcanic origin. However, its greater vulnerability lies in tsunamis generated by distant earthquakes, such as those from Alaska, Japan, or South America. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) confirmed no unusual seismic activity within the state's vicinity and reminded residents that preparedness drills are conducted periodically. 'Our residents are familiar with the sound of tsunami sirens. Today served as a real-time reminder of why those systems exist,' the agency noted in a post. No Casualties, No Tsunami, But Ever-Watchful Eyes As of Monday morning, seismic aftershocks in the Kamchatka region continue to be monitored. While the event caused no immediate loss of life or infrastructure damage, it brought to attention the delicate balance of life along tectonic fault lines. For Hawaii and much of the Pacific, the cancellation of the tsunami watch was a relief, but it was also a testament to the power of modern geoscience and emergency coordination in preventing panic and potential disaster. FAQs Why was a tsunami watch issued for Hawaii? A tsunami watch was issued after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Initial seismic data indicated a potential for oceanic disturbance, prompting the precautionary alert by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC). When was the tsunami watch for Hawaii canceled? The tsunami watch was issued at 9:03 p.m. local time and officially canceled by 9:42 p.m., following rapid seismic and oceanic assessments that showed no threat to Hawaiian shores.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Powerful earthquakes in Russia: Tsunami alert issued; three quakes including 7.4 magnitude strike off near Kamchatka
Representative Image Three powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Russia's Far East on Sunday, triggering a tsunami alert, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The first quake, with a magnitude of 5.0, was followed by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake at 07:07 UTC, located 151 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 8.7 km, according to the USGS. Shortly after, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the region at 06:49 UTC, around 144 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 20 km. Following this stronger quake, the USGS issued a warning that hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 kilometres (186 miles) of the epicentre in the Pacific. Earlier, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported a magnitude 6.6 earthquake near the coast of Russia's Kamchatka region. GFZ stated that the quake occurred at a depth of 10 km and had initially recorded it as a 6.2-magnitude tremor. This is a developing story...
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- Climate
- Al Bawaba
Earthquake of 6.7-magnitude shakes off the coast of Russia
Published July 20th, 2025 - 06:51 GMT ALBAWABA - The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a 6.7-magnitude earthquake has struck 130 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. However, the earthquake didn't trigger a tsunami alert, the USGS further mentioned in its report. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
