Massive Earthquake Sends Tsunami Into Coasts Of Russia, Japan, US
One of the world's strongest earthquakes since 2011 struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, with a powerful 8.8-magnitude tremor jolting the Kamchatka Peninsula and triggering tsunami alerts across the northern Pacific.
One of the world's strongest earthquakes since 2011 struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, with a powerful 8.8-magnitude tremor jolting the Kamchatka Peninsula and triggering tsunami alerts across the northern Pacific. The quake, the strongest in the region since 1952, was followed by intense aftershocks, with seismologists warning of further tremors up to magnitude 7.5 in the coming weeks.
A tsunami wave hit North Kurilsk, flooding parts of the settlement and a local fishing facility. Evacuations were reported across Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, and parts of Japan, while tsunami sirens sounded as far as Alaska, Hawaii, the western coast of the United States, and even New Zealand. Though no widespread destruction has been reported, officials warned that the risk of dangerous currents and repeated wave surges could persist for more than a day.
The powerful 8.8 magnitude quake, centered near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, caused immediate flooding in nearby ports as panicked residents fled inland. In Japan, frothy waves reached the northern coastline while Hawaii’s capital saw standstill traffic as people rushed away from the shoreline.
The earthquake struck about 119 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a Russian city of around 180,000 people. Originally measured at magnitude 8.0, it was later upgraded to 8.8 by the US Geological Survey, with a shallow depth of 20.7 kilometers. Several strong aftershocks followed, including one reaching 6.9 magnitude.
Tsunami warnings or advisories were issued across a wide stretch of the Pacific. Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Mexico, the Philippines, New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations including Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, were all put on alert.
In Hawaii, data from Midway Atoll showed wave peaks reaching 6 feet, as Governor Josh Green said waves hitting the islands could vary in height and force. On the US West Coast, tsunami advisories were issued from California to British Columbia. Oregon reported wave activity of 1 to 2 feet as authorities urged people to stay away from beaches, harbors, and marinas.
In Japan, thousands of residents evacuated to emergency centers, particularly in northern towns like Matsushima. Japan’s nuclear facilities remained stable. At the Fukushima Daiichi plant- site of the 2011 nuclear disaster- about 4,000 workers were evacuated to higher ground but continued remote safety monitoring.
In Russia, the port city of Severokurilsk saw flooding as waves washed fishing boats into the sea. Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov said no major damage was recorded, but power was temporarily cut while the network was inspected.
This earthquake appears to be the most powerful globally since the devastating 9.0 magnitude quake that struck northeastern Japan in 2011, leading to thousands of deaths and a nuclear meltdown. Only a handful of earthquakes in recorded history have matched or exceeded today’s magnitude.
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