A powerful earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, but officials have confirmed that it poses no threat to the Maldives.

According to the Maldives Meteorological Service, the quake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, about 9,500 kilometres from the Indian coast. Senior meteorological technician Tamim Abdul Razzaq stated that there is no risk of a tsunami affecting the Maldives.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake struck 136 kilometres east of Petropavlovsk, at a depth of 19 kilometres. It triggered tsunami warnings for some Pacific nations, though initial waves that reached Japan were reported to be just 3–4 centimetres high.

India’s Tsunami Warning Centre has also confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to the region.

This was the most powerful earthquake recorded in the area since the devastating 9.0–9.1 magnitude quake that struck northeastern Japan in 2011.