World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula
A strong earthquake struck southern Kamchatka in Russia on Friday, October 16.
Russian scientists put its magnitude at 6.9, while Reuters reported it as magnitude 7.
Its epicentre was 156 kilometres southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the region’s main city, at a depth of 138 kilometres, according to Russian scientists.
The shaking was felt as magnitude 5 in the city, and some residents left their apartments.
Inside buildings, lights swung, doors slammed and dishes rattled.
The tremor lasted about one minute, according to eyewitnesses.
The sources give no information about injuries or what might happen next.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck southern Kamchatka on October 16, with the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reporting a magnitude of 7.
The epicenter was on land, 156 kilometers southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 138 kilometers, according to Russian seismologists.
The earthquake was felt as magnitude 5 in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and some residents evacuated their apartments.
TASS reported that tremors lasted about one minute and caused fixtures to swing and tableware to rattle.
Reports gave slightly different local times for the tremor: 3:35 a.m. and 3:36 p.m.
- Who
- Residents of Kamchatka felt the earthquake; some evacuated their apartments.
- What
- An earthquake measured at magnitude 6.9 by Russian seismologists struck the peninsula. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported magnitude 7.
- When
- October 16, 2026. Reports gave the local time as 3:35 a.m. or 3:36 p.m.
- Where
- Southern Kamchatka, 156 kilometers southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The earthquake was recorded in Kamchatka; reports differ on its local time.
Scientists revised their magnitude estimate from 6.5 to 6.9.
- Magnitude
- 6.9, according to Russian seismologists
- Alternative magnitude report
- 7, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre
- Epicenter
- On land, 156 kilometers southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
- Depth
- 138 kilometers
- Local intensity
- Felt as magnitude 5 in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
4 sources
What people are saying
According to verified information, the magnitude of this seismic event was 6.9. Its epicenter was located on land, 156 kilometers southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at the depth of 138 kilometers. In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, it was felt as a magnitude-5 earthquake.