On the morning of August 18th at 7:10 AM local time, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck Kamchatka, Russia. According to the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the epicenter of the seismic event was located in the Pacific Ocean, 67 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 3.7 miles. The intensity of the tremors in southern Kamchatka, including Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Yelizovsky, Ust-Kamchatsky districts, and Vilyuchinsk, ranged from five to seven on the Richter scale. Following the strong earthquake, a series of aftershocks with magnitudes between 3.9 and 5.0 were recorded.
The early morning tremors caused significant alarm among Kamchatka residents. In the regional capital, people rushed outside in panic, clutching their belongings. Chandeliers swayed, dishes shattered, monitors, flower pots, and furniture toppled, and water splashed out of containers. Locals shared their experiences: “Many people ran outside, frightened, and even the dogs started barking loudly,” said a resident of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Another resident mentioned that the shaking lasted for quite a while. "We were at the dacha, and the little house was shaking so much we thought it would collapse. We were terrified; my hands are still shaking," he noted.
Following the earthquake, emergency response teams of rescuers and firefighters began an urgent inspection of buildings, socially significant and potentially dangerous facilities, educational institutions, and energy, heating, and water supply facilities. Residential buildings will be inspected by housing and utility experts in the coming days to determine their safety.
According to scientists from the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the earthquake in the region could be a precursor to stronger tremors in the Avacha Bay area. On August 18th, scientists issued a statement saying: "We consider it necessary to inform about the increased likelihood of a seismic event capable of causing 6–9 magnitude shaking in the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky urban area between August 18-19, 2024."
It was noted that seismic energy has accumulated in the Avacha Bay area, part of an extended seismic gap, sufficient to trigger an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5-8.7. The August 18th earthquake could be a foreshock to a similar or more powerful quake in this area.
In the wake of the strong earthquake, Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka began erupting. On the morning of August 18th, it produced a powerful ash plume. The ash rose 5.6 miles above sea level, and the plume extended 306 miles east-southeast from Shiveluch. Lightning was observed above the volcano during the night. A red aviation code was issued for the peninsula, and flights over the volcano were prohibited.
Volcanic ash covered the settlements of Ust-Kamchatsk and Krutoberegevo. Rescuers urged locals and visitors to the peninsula not to approach the volcano and, under no circumstances, attempt to climb it.
Earthquakes and other natural disasters on the planet are increasing at an abnormal rate, threatening humanity with global consequences within the next 10 years. This trend is driving up economic losses worldwide, jeopardizing global economic stability. To address this problem, international scientific cooperation is essential to combine resources and knowledge for the development of comprehensive measures. Without this coordinated approach, it is impossible to fully study and counteract the global threat. Time for action is limited, and it is crucial to use it effectively. Find out more at the forum “Global Crisis. The Responsibility.”