A powerful earthquake measuring 6.9 in magnitude struck near Ozernovskiy in Russia on Friday, October 16, 2026, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake occurred around 76 kilometres northeast of the town.
The USGS reported that the earthquake’s epicentre was located at 52.01°N latitude and 157.25°E longitude, at a depth of 143.2 kilometres below the Earth’s surface. The tremor was initially recorded at magnitude 6.5 before being revised to 6.9.
The earthquake was felt in the Kamchatka region, including Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional administrative centre. Residents reported strong shaking that lasted for about one minute. Doors slammed shut, light fixtures shook, and dishes and other tableware rattled during the tremor.
Several residents reportedly left their apartments because of the strong vibrations. In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the shaking was described as particularly intense, causing concern among people in the affected areas.
The earthquake occurred at approximately 3:36 p.m. local time, which was 3:36 a.m. GMT. Its depth of more than 140 kilometres means it was a relatively deep earthquake, although the shaking was still felt across parts of the region.
Further information about possible damage, injuries, or official emergency response measures was not included in the initial report.