8.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Russia’s Far East, Tsunami Alerts for Japan, Hawaii, and U.S. West Coast
(CNN) – A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, triggering a tsunami of up to 4 meters and prompting widespread evacuations across the Pacific region, including Japan, Hawaii, and parts of the U.S. West Coast.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was shallow, with a depth of 19.3 km, and was located 119 kilometers east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with a population of around 165,000. The quake, initially measured at 8.0, was later upgraded, and a strong aftershock of magnitude 6.9 followed shortly thereafter.
Authorities in Kamchatka reported multiple injuries, including individuals hurt while fleeing buildings. A tsunami with waves reaching 3 to 4 meters was recorded along parts of Kamchatka’s coastline. Regional emergency officials have advised residents to stay away from the shore. In Severo-Kurilsk on Sakhalin Island, the tsunami partially flooded a fish processing plant and port area, prompting the full evacuation of the local population.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for extensive areas along its eastern seaboard, anticipating waves of up to 3 meters. Evacuation orders were issued in coastal communities, with residents in northern Hokkaido seen relocating to higher ground.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System projected hazardous tsunami waves to reach coastlines within hours of the initial quake. Waves exceeding 3 meters were expected in parts of Russia and Ecuador, while Japan, Hawaii, Chile, and the Solomon Islands were projected to face waves ranging from 1 to 3 meters. Other Pacific nations, including the U.S. West Coast, were also placed under alert for potential tsunami activity.
Hawaiian authorities ordered evacuations from low-lying coastal areas and advised residents to move to higher elevations or upper floors of buildings. The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management warned of destructive tsunami waves in certain regions.
Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Situations and the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service confirmed the earthquake to be the strongest to hit the region since 1952. However, due to the nature of the quake’s epicentre, the felt intensity in populated areas was reportedly lower than expected.
This earthquake is the strongest since 2011, when a 9.0-9.1 megaquake struck northeastern Japan. However, it is still too soon to say how destructive or widespread the tsunami waves will be.