Massive 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

One of the most powerful recorded earthquakes in modern times struck the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia on July 30, 2025. According to the United States Geological Survey, the magnitude of the earthquake was 8.8 on the Richter scale. It was the sixth most powerful recorded earthquake in the world. 

The earthquake triggered tsunami alerts in countries along the Pacific Ocean as far as New Zealand and South American countries of Peru and Chile.

Epicentre of the Earthquake 

According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was approximately 119 kilometres from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula. 

The peninsula is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped string of volcanoes and seismic activity sites surrounding the Pacific Ocean. 

Around 90% of all earthquakes in the world and approximately75% of all active volcanoes on Earth are located in this region.

Eruption of Klyuchevskoy volcano

The earthquake triggered the eruption of the Klyuchevskoy volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia.

An ash plume of at least 2.5 kilometres erupted from the volcano. The Klyuchevskoy volcano is an active volcano that has erupted several times over recent years.

Fear of Tsunami 

Tsunami is a Japanese word that means Harbour waves. 

Tsunamis are a series of giant sea waves caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions under the sea, landslides into the sea, or meteor hits in the sea. 

However, earthquakes are a significant contributor to the occurrence of tsunamis worldwide.

These events release a large amount of energy in the sea, which causes a series of waves.

The deeper the depth of the sea, the faster the speed of the giant waves created by earthquakes. 

Top  Recorded Earthquakes in the World 

The following is the strongest earthquake recorded in the world since 1900. 

Biobio, Chile 

The strongest ever recorded earthquake with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale hit Biobio, Chile, on 22 May 1960. The earthquake caused a tsunami as high as 80 feet along the coast of Chile, and around 18-foot waves hit the Japanese Island of Honshu.

Alaska, United States 

The second place is the earthquake that hit Alaska, United States of America, on 27 March 1964.

It was recorded at 9.2 on the Richter scale, and it is said that the earthquake tremor lasted for around four and a half minutes.

For the next three weeks, the aftershocks of the earthquake were felt in the region.

Indian Ocean 

This is the third strongest earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 on the Richter scale was recorded on 26 December 2004 in the Indian Ocean near Sumatra, Indonesia. 

It created a huge tsunami in which 230,000 people in 13 countries died.

The tsunami led to the initiative for the creation of the Quad by the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

Tohoku, Japan 

In fourth place is the 9.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Tohoku, Japan, on 11 March 2011. The tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors, which led to the release of radioactive material into the water and atmosphere. 

Around 1 lakh residents of the area were evacuated.

Kamchatka, Russia (1952)

At the fifth position is the 9.0 magnitude that hit Kamchatka, Russia, on 4 November 1952. 

Around 10,000 people are believed to have died due to the earthquake and the resultant Tsunami.