A magnitude 8.7 earthquake has occurred near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This city lies within the same bay that hosts Russia’s major submarine facilities and naval infrastructure. Considering the strength of the quake and the resulting tsunami, some damage is likely.



The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 100 kilometers from Avacha Bay, which serves as the home base of Russia’s Pacific Fleet and hosts both diesel and nuclear-powered submarines. Initial footage from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky shows shaking from the quake and damage caused by the tsunami.



The bay hosts several facilities, but three in particular are noteworthy: the Northeastern Repair Center, which services both diesel and nuclear submarines; the Rybachiy Submarine Base, where Pacific Fleet submarines are stationed; and a dedicated pier for loading submarine-launched ballistic missiles.



These facilities are located directly along the coastline, at an elevation of approximately 3 to 6 meters above sea level. The extent of the damage caused by the earthquake itself remains unknown. As for the tsunami, if wave heights exceed 3 meters, some impact on the facilities is expected.


As of July 17, high-resolution imagery (which cannot be released due to licensing restrictions) shows five submarines docked at the pier. In lower-resolution imagery from July 20, at least three can be clearly identified by white markings. The remaining two are only visible in the high-resolution images and are indicated in yellow.



In the coming days, high-resolution imagery that will allow for a preliminary assessment of the damage is expected to be released. We will provide updates as soon as the images are reviewed. Stay tuned for the latest information, and if you’re able to help spread the word, please like, share, and follow. Thank you.