The strongest earthquake since 1952 has struck the Kamchatka Territory of Russia, with a magnitude of 8.7, according to various estimates. And the resultant tsunami hit the Severo-Kurilsk coastal zone, the Sakhalin regional government told TASS, the latter reports.

Seismologists recorded a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.1 on Wednesday at noon local time (approximately 3am Moscow time) 150 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka.

Later, the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that the magnitude, according to various estimates, reached 8.7. The quake was felt in the 7-8 magnitude zone. The epicenter of the tremor was located 149 km southeast of the regional capital—and at a depth of 17 km.

Seismologists recorded strong repeated earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.1-5.8 in the southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, the regional capital, with tremors felt at a magnitude of 3.

A tsunami threat was declared on the coast of Avacha Bay. A tsunami with a height of 3-4 m was recorded in the Yelizovsky District of Kamchatka. A tsunami was recorded in the Severo-Kurilsky coastal area, and local residents gathered in high places.

Eight earthquakes with a magnitude of more than 5 occurred off the coast of Kamchatka within an hour. The tremors occurred at a depth of 7 to 100 km.

Experts predict aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude within at least a month. Several people sought medical help. A wall collapsed in the building of kindergarten No.15 in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, but there were no casualties. The Severo-Kurilsk port and a fishing enterprise in the Sakhalin Region were flooded by the tsunami.

Internet connection problems were recorded in Kamchatka, but later all communication nodes were restored. The working day in Kamchatka state agencies was reduced to 1pm (4am Moscow time).

The number of ambulance calls in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka has increased. The city children's clinic No.1 is temporarily closed for inspection.