On the night of July 30, a powerful earthquake occurred in Kamchatka - its magnitude, according to various estimates, reached 8.7. This was reported in the Telegram channel of the Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

At 02:33 Moscow time, the Telegram channel of the Kamchatka branch of the Federal Research Center of Geophysical Surveys of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that the earthquake occurred 149 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 17 km. The initial magnitude was 7.1.

The branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences called the earthquake the strongest in the Kamchatka seismic focal zone since 1952. The magnitude, according to various estimates, reaches 8.7. According to preliminary estimates, the intensity of the tremors in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was at least 6 points, which is stronger than recorded on July 20, but weaker than could be expected for such an event. The geophysical service suggested that this is due to the peculiarities of the focal process.

A tsunami alert was declared. A strong tsunami was observed on the Kamchatka coast in Severo-Kurilsk. In addition, a strong aftershock process is developing, which is felt in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. According to the service, noticeable aftershocks will continue for at least a month.

It is emphasized that strong aftershocks with a magnitude of up to 7.5 should be expected, which are capable of causing oscillations with an intensity of 5-6 points in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, as well as dangerous tsunamis.

Experts do not recommend visiting the coast of Avacha Bay in the near future, especially Khalaktyrsky Beach, Anglichanka Bay, Prilivnoye Lake, etc. Currently, all operational services of the KB FRC EGS RAS are working in emergency mode.

According to the regional department of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, buildings in Kamchatka mostly survived the earthquake, but the facade of one of the kindergartens that was being repaired collapsed. There were no casualties. The department also warned that as a result of the earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a tsunami wave of up to 32 cm could approach the Aleutsky Municipal District, no more than 20 cm to the Ust-Kamchatsky Municipal District, and no more than 6 cm to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Urban District.

Kamchatka Krai Health Minister Oleg Melnikov reported that there were casualties in the earthquake, but there were no serious injuries. The woman who was injured in the building of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (Yelizovo) received medical assistance, her condition is satisfactory.