Plate subduction causes magnitude 6.9 quake in Russia’s Kamchatka
Initial reports indicate no deaths from the quake, with no damage or tsunami reported and tremors detected in Hakodate, Japan.
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at a depth of 135 kilometers.
- The quake was caused by the subduction of the Pacific Plate moving beneath the North American Plate.
- Initial reports indicated no deaths, damage, or tsunami warnings as a result of the event.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on land in the southern part of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at 10.35am Thai time on Friday (October 16, 2026), the Department of Mineral Resources’ Geohazards Operation Center reported.
The quake, classified as strong, occurred at a depth of 135.0 kilometres, with its epicentre about 76 kilometres north-east of Ozernovskiy.
People felt the tremors.
Initial reports indicated no deaths, and there were no reports of damage or a tsunami.
The Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division said the quake had no impact on Thailand.
Cause of Russia’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake
The Department of Mineral Resources’ Geohazards Operation Center attributed the earthquake to the Pacific Plate moving beneath the North American Plate in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench area.
Japan issues earthquake alert
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an earthquake alert, reporting that shaking of intensity 1 or above was detected in Hakodate, Hokkaido Prefecture.
