- A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific. The quake was one of the strongest recorded this century.
- Russian authorities declared an "absolute tsunami alert" for Avacha Bay, urging immediate inland evacuations. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center expanded alerts to Hawaii, advising urgent evacuations in low-lying areas.
- Japan prepared for waves up to 10 feet high, while Hawaii warned of a "forceful wall of water." Tokyo Electric Power Co. evacuated Fukushima Daiichi workers, though operations remained unaffected.
- Coastal communities, still scarred by past disasters like Japan's 2011 crisis, acted swiftly. Sakhalin evacuated the Kuril Islands, and Alaska and California monitored advisory-level waves.
- Authorities emphasized prolonged risks, noting that tsunami surges could continue for hours. The event underscored advancements in early warning systems but also the persistent threat of tectonic activity.
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, July 30, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders across the Pacific.
The quake, one of the strongest recorded this century, prompted action from Japan to Hawaii as authorities braced for potentially destructive waves. Initial assessments from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) placed the quake's epicenter about 85 miles off Kamchatka's east coast at a depth of nearly 12 miles.
Russian emergency services reported intense shaking that was initially recorded as a magnitude 7.5 tremor, with the USGS upping the measurement to 8.8. This quake rattled buildings, knocked furniture over and triggered car alarms in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
A kindergarten building suffered structural damage, though no injuries were reported. Authorities issued an "absolute tsunami alert" for Avacha Bay, urging residents to move inland immediately.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center swiftly expanded alerts, placing Hawaii under an "urgent action" warning and advising evacuations in low-lying areas. "It is not just a three-foot wave, it is a forceful wall of water," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green warned, referencing potential infrastructure damage.
The earthquake underscores the vulnerability of coastal communities to seismic events and the lingering trauma of past disasters, such as Japan's 2011 Fukushima crisis. Sirens blared across the islands as residents scrambled to higher ground, a precaution ingrained since the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis that devastated the state.
From Japan to California: Pacific areas brace for giant waves
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued advisories for waves up to three meters (10 feet) along Hokkaido and Honshu, later confirming arrivals of 60-centimeter surges. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba activated disaster protocols, ordering the implementation of necessary measures in coordination with local authorities. He also instructed that accurate information be provided to the public. (Related: Pair of massive 7.5 magnitude EARTHQUAKES shake Taiwan, trigger tsunami warnings.)
Tokyo Electric Power Co. evacuated workers from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, though officials assured no impact on ongoing water treatment operations. Coastal towns like Ishinomaki, still scarred by the 2011 disaster, heeded evacuation orders promptly – a testament to the Land of the Rising Sun's refined disaster response.
In Russia, Sakhalin Gov. Valery Limarenko confirmed Kuril Islands evacuations, while Alaska's Aleutian chain and California's northern coast braced for advisory-level waves. The magnitude revision – a rarity in seismic analysis – revealed the quake's exceptional strength, rivaled only by events like Chile's 2010 quake and the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster.
As officials monitored lingering risks, the global response highlighted both progress in early warning systems and the relentless threat posed by Earth's tectonic forces. For now, vigilance remains critical. Waves may arrive for hours, and the sea's full fury is not always in the first surge.
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Watch this video showing the aftermath of three tsunami waves hitting the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk in Russia, following the Kamchatka quake.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
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