MOSCOW, July 30 (Alliance News): A powerful earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck near Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific region and causing significant structural damage and injuries.
According to international media reports, the massive tremor shook the Kamchatka region, generating tsunami waves of 3 to 4 meters that battered coastal areas, damaged ports, and impacted buildings.
Initial reports confirmed several injuries as emergency teams scrambled to assess the full scale of the devastation.
In the wake of the seismic event, tsunami advisories were issued across the Pacific Ocean, with emergency alerts activated in Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. West Coast, including California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Authorities in these regions urged thousands of residents in coastal zones to evacuate and seek higher ground as a precaution.
In Japan, the city of Hokkaido experienced tsunami waves, and railway services in eastern parts of the country were suspended.
The Fukushima nuclear plant was also evacuated as a preventive measure amid fears of aftershocks and rising water levels.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake’s epicenter was located approximately 150 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city in Russia’s far east along the Pacific coast.
The agency predicted tsunami waves between 30 centimeters and one meter along Russian shores, with smaller waves expected in Japan and Hawaii.
The current earthquake follows a series of seismic events earlier this month in the same region. On July 20, earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 and 6.7 were recorded, and a subsequent 7.4 magnitude quake prompted tsunami alerts from USGS.
Emergency response units across affected regions remain on high alert as monitoring continues for potential aftershocks and further tsunami activity. Authorities are urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious and follow evacuation instructions.
