A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, triggering widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific region, including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and parts of the US West Coast.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred off the Far East coast of Russia, sending fears of tsunami waves as high as 13 feet (4 metres) crashing into the Kamchatka shoreline. The tremor was shallow, making it particularly dangerous and capable of generating destructive waves.
According to Mint, authorities in multiple countries, including Russia, Japan, and the United States, have begun evacuating coastal residents. People have been urged to move to higher ground amid concerns about aftershocks and additional waves.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov described it as “the strongest earthquake in decades,” confirming damage to infrastructure, including a kindergarten, though no casualties have been reported so far.
In Severo-Kurilsk, a remote town near Kamchatka, residents were evacuated as a precaution. The Sakhalin Governor, Valery Limarenko, confirmed damage and emergency response measures in place.