DAMAGING M7.8 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 128km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia) on Friday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on September 18th, 2025. Last updated November 17th, 2025.

A DAMAGING and very strong MAG-7.8 earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean 128 kilometer from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia in the early morning of Friday September 19th, 2025. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 53 kilometers (33 mi) off the coast of Russia, 128 kilometer east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Kamchatka. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 30 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Sep 19, 2025 06:58 (Kamchatka Time) - Sep 18, 2025 18:58 Universal Time.
Location:	128 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka, Russia. Coordinates 53°10'35"N 160°32'14"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 7.8
Depth:	30 km (19 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	IX Violent On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential tsunami risk The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential tsunami risk

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. The US Geographic Survey organization has indicated a potential risk for tsunami's following this earthquake.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Significant economic impact

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least four buildings damaged in the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky area.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level ORANGE (orange). They expect an 37% likelyhood of between 100 and 1,000 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 97% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls between 1 and 10,000 million USD.

Roughly 290 thousand people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 290 thousand have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 60 people were exposed to level VIII. At this level, severe shaking and likely moderate to heavy damage can be expected. Intensity level VI was experienced by the majority of people (around 260 thousand). In their region, strong shaking and probably light damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Russia .

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Russia . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Kamchatka, Russia. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located 128 kilometer (80 mi) east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is estimated to be around level VII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (very strong shaking, likely moderate damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VIII. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 15 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 15 people have reported shaking in 3 places, all within Russia.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Petropavlovsk-Kamčatskij, Kamčatka, Russia: 9 people.
• Mohovaja, Kamčatka, Russia: 3 people.
• Jelizovo, Kamčatka, Russia: 3 people.

201 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 201 smaller aftershocks were detected. At a distance of 55 km (34 mi) south-east of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 21 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 5.9

In the days before this main shock, 7 smaller foreshocks were detected. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 1 day earlier. It measured a magnitude of 5

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

Earthquakes of this strength are not so common in the region, but it's not the first time. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since July 29th, 2025, when a 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit 78 km (49 mi) further south-southwest. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 1 earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 10 years.

Sources

Last updated 17/11/25 03:48 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000qx2g
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250918_0000288
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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