8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia triggers tsunami warning in the Pacific

Photo of Ray Harrington in Unsplash

A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East on Tuesday, triggering a tsunami warning across the Pacific Rim. The quake, one of the strongest recorded in the region since 1952, caused waves of up to five meters in coastal areas of Russia and prompted evacuations in countries including Japan, the United States, French Polynesia, Chile, and New Zealand.

Immediate impact

The epicenter of the earthquake was located approximately 119 kilometers east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of approximately 20 kilometers, according to Russian and U.S. geological surveys. The quake triggered a tsunami that struck the port city of Severo-Kurilsk in the Kuril Islands, causing coastal flooding, structural damage, and power outages, although no fatalities have been confirmed so far.

Global tsunami alert and evacuations

The tsunami threat quickly spread throughout the North and Central Pacific. In Japan, authorities issued alerts in the Hokkaido region, where personnel from the Fukushima nuclear plant were even evacuated as a precaution. In Hawaii, waves exceeding 1.5 meters were recorded, while warnings for dangerous rip currents remained in effect along the west coast of the United States.

The alerts were gradually deactivated in the following hours, but authorities maintain active surveillance for aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 7.0.

At the same time, volcanic activity was reported at Mount Klyuchevsky, the largest volcano in Eurasia, increasing the risk level in the region. Experts warn that the earthquakes could be linked to a reactivation of the local volcanic system.

Analysis and forecasts

Scientists from the Pacific International Tsunami Center indicated that it was an earthquake generated in a subduction zone, where the Pacific plate enters under the Okhotsk plate, a location known for generating large-scale seismic events and destructive tsunamis, such as those that occurred in Tohoku (Japan, 2011) and Sumatra (2004).

Although the alerts have been deactivated, the warning of anomalous currents and possible new aftershocks remains in effect in the coming weeks. Russian authorities and those in coastal countries have strengthened their monitoring systems and urged the public to stay informed through official channels.

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Sources:

• Reuters
• DW
• Служба Срочных Донесений