Massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s east coast triggers tsunami alerts

A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Tuesday, triggering widespread tsunami alerts across the Pacific and prompting evacuations in parts of Japan, Hawaii, and several Pacific island nations.

The quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of approximately 20 kilometers, struck around 120 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. It was preceded by a series of strong tremors, including a 7.4-magnitude foreshock, and followed by multiple aftershocks.

Authorities across the Pacific basin quickly issued tsunami warnings, urging residents to evacuate low-lying areas. In Russia’s Kuril Islands and Kamchatka region, waves reaching up to 4 meters inundated coastal towns, causing localized flooding and damage to infrastructure. A state of emergency was declared in the region, and initial reports confirmed several injuries.

In Japan, the Meteorological Agency issued tsunami advisories for the country’s eastern coastline, including Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, where waves of up to 0.4 meters were recorded. Nearly two million residents were ordered to evacuate as a precaution. Train services were suspended and nuclear power facilities placed on alert, though no damage or radiation leaks were reported.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center placed Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. West Coast under tsunami alerts. In Honolulu, evacuation orders were issued for beachfront areas, and early tsunami waves of 1 to 1.8 meters were observed in the early morning hours. Authorities stressed that tsunami conditions could persist for several hours, and warned that later waves could be larger than initial ones.

Global Impact

Tsunami warnings and advisories were also issued in Indonesia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru, as well as numerous Pacific island nations. Coastal communities were urged to stay off beaches and evacuate to higher ground.

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission noted that a tsunami of this magnitude poses significant risks across the Pacific Rim, and monitoring centers remain on high alert.