Russian authorities identify epicentre of magnitude 8.8 earthquake 120 kilometres from submarine base

The epicentre of a magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Far Eastern Russia earlier this week has been traced by Russian authorities to an offshore area approximately 120 kilometres from a navy base.

Security analysts have raised concerns about the proximity of Rybachiy Naval Base in Avacha Bay, which is also home to some of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet's nuclear-powered submarines, to the epicentre of the earthquake that struck Kamchatka on Wednesday, July 30.

Russian authorities claimed that the quake left only slightly damaged civilian buildings and a number of injuries but no fatalities in the affected areas throughout the peninsula.

However, there have been fears that the base infrastructure at Rybachiy and even some of the submarines stationed there suffered damage that was not reported by the local media.

The Daily Telegraph has posted what it said was satellite imagery of some of the piers at the Rybachiy base showing damage caused by a tsunami that had been generated by Wednesday's quake.

Experts have warned that serious damage to a submarine could trigger a catastrophic event such as a radiation leak or an accidental weapons launch.

Officials in Moscow have assured that the facilities at the base did not suffer damage from the quake.