5.3-magnitude quake strikes off Russia’s Kamchatka Coast

MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (YPA) – A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Monday, according to the local branch of The Geophysical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GC RAS).

The agency said the quake was recorded at 13:39 local time (04:39 Moscow time), with its epicenter located approximately 111 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 47.6 kilometers.

Preliminary estimates indicate the tremor reached a level 3 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale in the city. No tsunami warnings were issued.

The region has seen heightened seismic activity since a powerful 8.8-magnitude quake struck on July 30 — the strongest since 1952. Aftershocks have continued daily, with some reaching magnitudes of up to 6.5

Seismologists report that while the intensity of the aftershocks is gradually decreasing, the overall seismic activity remains classified as “extremely high.”

Local authorities declared a natural disaster emergency in late July after a major quake triggered ongoing seismic activity.

@E.Y.M