VLADIVOSTOK, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, with initial information showing no destruction or casualties, local authorities said on Saturday.
According to the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), the earthquake struck at 22:10 Moscow time (1910 GMT) on Saturday. The epicenter was located 118 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the administrative center of the Kamchatka Territory, in the Pacific Ocean.
The Kamchatka branch of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) said that preliminary information shows no destruction or casualties due to the earthquake, and emergency response teams, including rescuers and firefighters, have been dispatched to inspect buildings and ensure public safety.
Following the initial quake, a second earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 struck 116 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This was followed by a series of aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 3.9 to 5.0. The aftershocks occurred at depths ranging from six to 48 km, with epicenters located between 106 and 114 km from the city.
The EMERCOM has confirmed that most of the aftershocks were not felt by the population and that there is no threat of a tsunami following the seismic activity.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov reassured the public, saying that the ongoing aftershocks are part of a normal decreasing process following a major earthquake, and the likelihood of a strong aftershock is low. ■
