The powerful earthquake off the Russian coast triggered a tsunami warning

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the Kamchatka peninsula, Russia, which could create tsunamis within a 300km radius.

Earthquake location.(Graphic: USGS).

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of more than 10km under the Pacific Ocean. The epicenter is about 200 km away from Nikolskoe, Bering Island, off the Kamchatka peninsula, Russia, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warns that an earthquake can generate tsunamis within a 300km radius.

The earthquake occurred shortly after the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka sprayed ash. The fly ash column is 6km above sea level, forcing authorities to issue warnings to aircraft operating in the area.

The unit of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in Kamchatka estimated tsunamis not higher than 0.5m.

USGS previously recorded three smaller earthquakes in the same area within 24 hours.

1. What is a tsunami? When does a tsunami occur?