Kamchatka Peninsula, 20 July (H.S.): On July 20, three earthquakes struck Russia, notably affecting the Kamchatka Peninsula. The seismic events prompted the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre to issue a tsunami warning following a 7.4-magnitude quake recorded by the US Geological Survey (USGS), located approximately 144 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Initial tremors included earthquakes of magnitudes 5 and 6.7, with the major quake occurring at a depth of 20 km.

The tsunami alert warns of potentially hazardous waves in coastal areas up to 300 km from the epicentre. Following the primary quake, additional aftershocks, including quakes of 6.7 and 6.6 magnitudes, were reported. The Kamchatka Peninsula is known for its seismic activity due to its position at the intersection of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, with a history of significant earthquakes.

On the same day, a 5.6-magnitude quake hit northern Iran and a 4.0 quake struck Tajikistan, which is also prone to earthquakes due to its geographical location. The Iran quake occurred at a depth of 3 km, while the Tajikistan tremor registered at a depth of 160 km.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar