Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
Massive 8.8 Earthquake Off Kamchatka Peninsula Triggers Tsunami Warnings Across Pacific
An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, early on Wednesday (July 30), causing a Pacific-wide tsunami warning and prompting massive evacuations across several regions.
The earthquake, which occurred at approximately 06:24 AM Japan Standard Time (JST), was initially reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) before being revised to 8.8 from an initial 8.0. The epicentre was located about 125 kilometres southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with a population of 165,000 people.
The Kamchatka Peninsula, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is known for its intense geological activity. The quake triggered a tsunami, causing waves up to 3-5 metres in some areas and locally reaching a run-up of 19 metres on Shumshu Island near Kamchatka.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for the Pacific coastline of Japan, extending from Hokkaido to Kyushu. Residents were urged to evacuate from the coastline of the Kamchatka Peninsula due to the tsunami threat. The Agency predicted that the tsunami waves would impact the coastline starting around 10:00 AM JST.
Approximately 1.9 million people were evacuated from coastal prefectures in Japan as a precaution. The tsunami's impact on New Zealand was minor, with the largest wave recorded at 55 cm on the Chatham Islands, not warranting evacuation there. Russia declared a state of emergency in the northern Kuril Islands after tsunami waves struck Severo-Kurilsk.
The Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear plants were evacuated as a precaution, but no safety issues were reported. The tsunami caused shifting water currents and debris movement, demonstrating how even relatively small tsunami heights can be dangerous.
Despite the immense magnitude, the earthquake caused moderate ground damage and resulted in around 21 injuries in Kamchatka Krai and Sakhalin Oblast. The tsunami waves caused significant flooding and damage on Shumshu Island.
Monitoring and rapid alert systems helped millions evacuate and prevented mass casualties. The Minister for Emergency Situations in the Kamchatka region, Sergey Lebedev, confirmed that tsunami waves of 3-4 metres hit certain areas of the peninsula. The Japan Meteorological Agency raised its warning level, predicting that tsunami waves of up to 3 metres would impact the coastline of Japan.
Authorities remain vigilant due to the ongoing risk of aftershocks and tsunami surges.
