A powerful earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, registering a magnitude of 8.8, leading to widespread evacuation orders due to the potential tsunami effects.
The shallow quake, which occurred at 8:25 AM Japan time (11:25 PM GMT), was initially rated at 8.0 before experts later upgraded it to an 8.8 magnitude, with a depth of 12 miles, according to Japan and the US Geological Survey.
Reports indicate that the earthquake caused damage to buildings and resulted in injuries in the remote Russian region, with waves of up to 5 meters (16 feet) being observed.
Authorities in Hawaii issued an evacuation order as tsunami waves reaching 5.7 feet (1.74 meters) were recorded in Kahului, Maui, and 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) in Hailo, prompting coastal residents to move to higher ground or the fourth floor of buildings and boats to leave harbors.
The US Tsunami Warning System has since warned of hazardous tsunami waves spreading throughout the Pacific, urging people to take immediate action to ensure their safety by getting away from the ocean.
In California, waves associated with the tsunami reached the coast around midnight local time, impacting areas like Arena Cove and Monterey.
Tsunami warnings extended beyond the United States, affecting Japan’s eastern seaboard, which has faced devastation from a previous 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
Waves of over 3 meters are anticipated for certain areas, including parts of Russia, the northern Hawaiian islands, and Ecuador, while a range of 1-3 meters is expected for nations like Japan, Hawaii, Chile, and the Solomon Islands.
Elsewhere, smaller waves might be seen along coastlines across much of the Pacific, reaching as far as Australia, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand, Tonga, and Taiwan, where tsunami watches were also issued.
As the strongest earthquake recorded since 2011, this earthquake ties as the sixth most severe in history, matching notable quakes from 2010 in Biobío, Chile, and 1906 in Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
Videos from Russian state television have captured waves inundating coastal towns in the far east of Russia, dragging buildings and debris into the sea.
The Kamchatka region experienced immediate impacts, with reports of port infrastructure damage and several ships being pulled into the straits post-quake.
Local officials in Russia have strongly advised residents to flee to higher ground, while initial tsunami waves were also reported off the northern coast of Japan, though thankfully without immediate reports of damage.
In response to the quake, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, confirmed that all staff had been evacuated, assuring that there were no abnormalities reported so far.
Hawaii’s governor, Josh Green, has made urgent appeals to residents in low-lying areas, emphasizing the necessity of moving to higher ground for safety.
Dr. Lucy Jones, a seismologist, provided insights on the potential impacts, suggesting that while the tsunami could inflict damage to harbors and waterfront properties in Hawaii and possibly California, a catastrophic loss of life in the Americas is not expected.
She clarified, “It’s not a wave. That’s how much the sea level rises temporarily.”
As the tsunami event unfolds, officials are closely monitoring the situation across the Pacific, ensuring that preparations and warnings remain effective for all affected areas.
image source from：independent
