30 October, Kathmandu. Japan's Meteorological Agency mistakenly issued a 9.9-magnitude earthquake warning after Friday's earthquake near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The agency withdrew the warning after about eight minutes.
According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred in the Kamchatka region. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the earthquake at 6.9 magnitude. According to the agency, the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 160 kilometers from the surface of the earth.
After the earthquake, at 12:40 pm on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a warning that strong tremors could occur from Hokkaido to the Tokai region in central Japan. Then the public information system and mobile phones were alarmed. Eight minutes later, at 12:48 p.m., the agency canceled the warning.
According to the spokesperson of the agency, the system incorrectly estimated the epicenter of the earthquake around the Kuril Islands and also overestimated its magnitude.
He said that on the basis of this, the early warning of a major earthquake has been issued. The agency said it is investigating the cause of the incident.
In Japan, no really strong tremors were felt. According to Japan's Seismic Intensity Measurement System, only the first level tremor was recorded in Hakodate, Hokkaido. No tsunami warnings or notifications were issued after the incident.
8.8 magnitude earthquake in Kamchatka last year
The Kamchatka Peninsula is an active region in terms of seismic activity. On July 29, 2025, a powerful earthquake of 8.8 magnitude occurred in this area.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was the sixth strongest recorded by modern instruments in the world. After that, tsunami warnings were issued in various areas around the Pacific Ocean.
Kamchatka is part of the seismically and volcanically active region of the Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire. Earthquakes occur frequently here due to the process of the Pacific plate subducting under another geological plate. There is also a risk of tsunami when a strong earthquake occurs under the sea in this area.
- Courtesy of The Japan Times
