A colossal 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, sending ripple effects of tsunami warnings and advisories across numerous Pacific nations, including Japan, Australia, and Hawaii. The powerful tremor, confirmed by the US Geological Survey (USGS), was situated approximately 125 kilometres southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city home to 165,000 residents on Avacha Bay. The shallow depth of the quake, just 19.3 kilometres, amplified concerns about potential tsunami activity.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) swiftly issued a tsunami advisory following the seismic event, initially cautioning of waves up to one metre along its Pacific coast. However, the alert was subsequently upgraded, projecting waves that could reach a menacing three metres in certain areas. Coastal communities were urged to vacate shorelines, with the first waves anticipated between 10:00 am and 11:30 am local time.
Russia’s far eastern regions also witnessed the activation of tsunami alerts. In Severo-Kurilsk, a town located south of the quake’s epicentre, residents were promptly ordered to evacuate to higher ground. While local authorities reported no casualties, a kindergarten building was noted to have sustained damage.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov termed the earthquake as “the most powerful in decades.” The Kamchatka branch of Russia’s emergency services indicated that waves up to 32 centimetres were possible along the region’s coast.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had initially issued watches for Hawaii, Japan, and Australia. As of early Wednesday, no major damage or casualties have been reported from these regions. Authorities in the affected areas continue to meticulously monitor wave activity and have strongly advised residents to exercise extreme caution in coastal zones.
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