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Nature and Environment

Quake prompts tsunami warning in Russian Far East

March 25, 2020

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake has hit off the coast of the Kuril Islands, in eastern Russia. The US Geological Survey has warned the event could "generate a destructive tsunami" in the North Pacific.

https://p.dw.com/p/3ZzNJ
Kunashiri Island in the Kuril Islands
Image: Getty Images/AFP/K. Nogi

An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Kuril Islands in the far east of Russia on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning for the nearby shores. There is an ongoing investigation to determine the threat. 

According to the United States Geological Survey the earthquake hit a depth of 59 kilometres (37 miles), around 1,400 kilometres (around 850 miles) northeast of the Japanese city of Sapporo.

"This earthquake has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami in the source region," the US Tsunami Warning Center said, adding that it was "analyzing the event to determine the level of danger".

Kuril Island Earthquake

A tsunami watch alert was also issued for Hawaii, but was canceled shortly afterward.