• 8.8 Magnitude
• Earthquake
• Far East Russia
• Tsunami

MASSIVE 8.8-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES RUSSIA’S FAR EAST, TRIGGERING TSUNAMI WAVES ACROSS PACIFIC

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  CapitalTimesNews / 4 months
• 0
• 2 min read

A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Far East on Wednesday, triggering tsunami waves that hit several countries along the Pacific Coast, including Hawaii, Japan, China, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Alaska in the United States. The quake, which is the largest since 2011 and the sixth biggest in global history, occurred at 11:25 local time. The epicenter of the quake was located near a small island settlement with a population of about 2,000 inhabitants. Although initial reports indicated only minor damage, the quake triggered a tsunami that caused widespread flooding and damage in coastal areas. Tsunami waves of up to 4 meters high were observed in some areas, with waves expected to reach up to 3 meters in Hawaii. In Japan, nearly 2 million people were evacuated, with waves of up to 1 meter expected in Tokyo and Osaka. “Please evacuate quickly. If you can move quickly to higher ground and away from the coast,” a newscaster on NHK said. Unfortunately, one woman was killed as she drove her car off a cliff while trying to escape. The US Tsunami Warning Centers issued warnings for the West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii, with waves exceeding 3 meters above the tide level possible along some coasts. Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, where the quake struck, experienced aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.9. Russian authorities reported minor injuries but no serious casualties. “The walls were shaking,” a Kamchatka resident told state media Zvezda. “It’s good that we packed a suitcase, there was one with water and clothes near the door. We quickly grabbed it and ran out… It was very scary.” The quake was the strongest in the Kamchatka region since 1952, according to the regional seismic monitoring service, which warned of potential aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude.