Russia rocked by strongest earthquake in history: Tsunamis hit pacific coastlines! – PHOTOS
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The Russian authorities said an 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the country’s far eastern Kamchatka region on Wednesday was the strongest ever recorded.
The epicentre of the tremor was located 149 kilometres (92 miles) southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the administrative centre of Kamchatka Krai, at a depth of 17 km (10.5 mi), regional governor Vladimir Solodov said on Telegram.
“This is the strongest earthquake in the entire instrumental observation period (observations, using special devices), with a magnitude of 8.8. We expect regular, prolonged aftershocks,” he said. The official urged citizens to remain calm, avoid panic, and trust only official information.
Later, the Kamchatka Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Unified Geophysical Service stated that the magnitude, according to varying evaluations, may have reached 8.7.
Offshore Kamchatka experienced eight earthquakes within an hour, each having a magnitude greater than 5, occurring at depths ranging from 7 to 100 km (4.3-62 mi), it said.
Scientists expect that aftershocks with magnitudes up to 7.5 will continue for at least another month.
