Earthquake of magnitude 6.9 jolts Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, no tsunami warning issued

According to EMSC, the quake was at a depth of 140 km (86.99 miles) and took place at about 3.35 pm (local time).

An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula region on Friday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The epicenter was 146 km between south and south-west (SSW) of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia. (via Unsplash)

According to USGS, the quake was at a depth of 135 km (86.99 miles) and took place at about 3.35 am (UTC).

The epicenter was 146 km between south and south-west (SSW) of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia and 80 km between north and norht-east(NNE) of Ozernovskiy in Russia, according to European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. EMSC had earlier calculated the magnitude of the quake as 7, but later updated it to 6.9.

No tsunami alert was issued in the immediate aftermath of the quake, with the US National Tsunami Warning Center saying there was no danger following the tremors.

Japan mistakenly issues 9.9-magnitude quake alert

Minutes after the Kamchatka quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency mistakenly sent out a 9.9-magnitude earthquake alert, later withdrawing the warning. The false warning forecast strong shaking across northern, eastern and central Japan, while the actual 6.9 magnitude quake did not produce any shaking in Japan.

In the alert sent out by mistake, the early-warning display identified the location as the Kuril Islands region and showed an estimated magnitude of 9.9 at a depth of 140 kilometers (87 miles), BNO News reported. The false alert was sent out at 12:36 pm (local time), setting off alarms in public speakers and mobile phones, and canceled at 12.48 pm. The JMA, while retracting the alert, said it overestimated the magnitude of the quake.