A powerful 8.8‑magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered tsunami warnings across four continents, prompting evacuations from Russia to the United States.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck 119 kilometers (74 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 20.7 km, the strongest to hit the region since 1952. Russian officials confirmed injuries and significant evacuations.
Russia: Injuries and Evacuations
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said the quake was “the strongest in decades.”
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry reported that waves flooded parts of Severo-Kurilsk in the Sakhalin region. A state of emergency was declared, and 2,700 people were evacuated from the Kuril Islands. Health officials reported no serious injuries so far.
Hawaii and California: Evacuation Orders
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for Alaska and Hawaii.
Hawaii’s Emergency Management Department ordered evacuations in low-lying coastal areas, warning: “Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected.”
The U.S. Coast Guard closed all Hawaiian harbors to incoming traffic and ordered commercial vessels to leave.
On the U.S. West Coast, the National Weather Service issued a tsunami advisory for California. Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed a warning for the state’s North Coast, from Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border, urging residents to follow emergency instructions and stay away from beaches.
Japan and Indonesia: Urgent Warnings
Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned waves up to 3 meters could strike Hokkaido, Wakayama and the Ogasawara Islands, suspending rail services and calling for immediate evacuations to higher ground.
Indonesia’s Meteorology Agency issued an alert for possible waves up to 0.5 meters, advising coastal residents to move inland.
Peru: Pacific Impact
Peru’s navy issued a tsunami alert along its coast.
“The tsunami generated by this earthquake is expected to reach the Peruvian coast on Wednesday morning, with waves not expected to exceed three meters,” said Hernando Tavera, head of the Geophysical Institute.