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Scientists have revealed the geological impact of a powerful earthquake that struck Russia’s far east on July 30. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake, which occurred off the coast, prompted tsunami warnings as far away as Hawaii.
The earthquake caused significant shifts in the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula and surrounding Pacific Rim regions. According to the Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), the southern part of the peninsula sank by nearly two meters (six feet).
Contacted for further comment, RAS representatives confirmed these findings.
*This image from March 16, 2021, shows the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupting on Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. (Credit: MAXIM FESYUNOV/Getty Images)*
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### Why It Matters
The earthquake triggered a tsunami that sent waves across the Pacific, causing evacuations and emergency declarations from Russia to Hawaii.
Days later, Krasheninnikov volcano, dormant for approximately 600 years, erupted in the same region. Aftershocks highlighted the vulnerability of global coastlines along the Pacific Ring of Fire, known for intense tectonic activity.
### What To Know
The RAS stated that the earthquake was among the ten strongest ever recorded and caused significant geological shifts. In the southern part of the peninsula, displacements were observed at nearly two meters, comparable to those seen after the 2011 earthquake in Tohoku, Japan.
Despite the earthquake’s magnitude, no fatalities occurred. The resulting tsunami damaged port facilities and a fish processing plant in Severo-Kurilsk. While the damage was less than feared, the geological impact was significant.
### What People Are Saying
The RAS on Telegram noted that maximum seismic displacements after the July 30 earthquake were observed in the southern part of the peninsula and amounted to almost two meters, comparable to horizontal displacements seen after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
### What Happens Next
On Monday, Russian scientists reported that there were seven earthquakes in the Kamchatka region on that day alone. This suggests that seismic activity is ongoing in the area.
In summary, a powerful earthquake not only caused significant geological shifts but also prompted tsunami warnings and aftershocks across the Pacific, highlighting the vulnerability of coastal regions along the Ring of Fire.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to the passage, how much did the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula sink due to the earthquake?
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