Tsunami Hits Freshwater Kurile Lake After Kamchatka Earthquake, No Injuries Reported

A tsunami was recorded at Kurile Lake in southern Kamchatka following the powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake that struck near the peninsula on Wednesday— the strongest in the region since 1952. According to the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, no one was injured. Due to poor weather conditions, tourist presence at the lake—part of the South Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary—was minimal. Most of those on-site were reserve staff and volunteers. "We were on the watchtower near the mouth of the Khakytsin River, one of the main sockeye salmon spawning sites where many bears gather. The tower started shaking violently. We had to descend immediately. Standing was impossible, so we sat on the ground. When we saw the water retreating from the lake, we knew we had to run inland. It’s hard to run when the ground is shaking beneath you. Thankfully, no large wave followed."