A powerful earthquake measuring over 8.8 in magnitude struck off the coast of Kamchatka in Russia’s Far East, making it the strongest seismic event recorded globally since 2011.
Tsunami warnings have been issued for coastal areas across the Pacific, including Russia, Japan, and the United States. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center has also issued advisories for Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast.
The quake strikes 136km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia’s far east, according to US Geological Survey.
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered 4-metre (13-foot) tsunami waves and sparked evacuation orders in Hawaii and across the Pacific on Wednesday.
The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several people in the remote Russian region, while much of Japan's eastern seaboard - devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011 - was ordered to evacuate.
In Hawaii, coastal residents were told to get to high ground or the fourth floor or above of buildings, and the U.S. Coast Guard ordered ships out of harbours as the tsunami approached.
"Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected," the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said on X. No major waves were seen along the western-most of the major Hawaiian islands just before sunset when the first tsunami was expected to hit, live footage showed.
Tsunami waves earlier struck parts of Kamchatka, partially flooding the port and a fish processing plant in the town of Severo-Kurilsk and sweeping vessels from their moorings, regional officials and Russia's emergency ministry said.
"Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. Russian scientists said it was the most powerful quake to hit the region since 1952.
Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram that a kindergarten was damaged but most buildings withstood the quake. No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was shallow at a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles), and centred 119 km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000.
It revised the magnitude up from 8.0 earlier, and reported a series of strong aftershocks up to a magnitude of 6.9.
A resident in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky said the shaking rumbled for several minutes.
"I decided to leave the building," said Yaroslav, 25. "It felt like the walls could collapse any moment. The shaking lasted continuously for at least 3 minutes.”
WARNINGS ACROSS THE PACIFIC
Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns across Japan's Pacific coast and evacuation orders were issued for tens of thousands of people.
Workers evacuated the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, where a meltdown following the 2011 tsunami caused a radioactive disaster, operator TEPCO said.
Footage on public broadcaster NHK showed scores of people on the northern island of Hokkaido on the roof of a building, sheltering under tents from the beating sun, as fishing boats left harbours to avoid potential damage from the incoming waves.
Automaker Nissan Motor (7201.T), opens new tab suspended operations at certain domestic factories in Japan to ensure employee safety, Kyodo news agency reported.
Three tsunami waves had been recorded in Japan, the largest of 60cm (24 inches), officials said. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there were no injuries or damage reported so far, and no irregularities at any nuclear plants.
A contour shake map of magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also warned of "hazardous tsunami waves" spreading across the Pacific.
Waves reaching more than 3 metres were possible along some coasts of Russia, the northern Hawaiian islands and Ecuador, while waves of 1-3 metres were possible in countries including Japan, Hawaii, Chile and the Solomon Islands, it said.
Smaller waves were possible along coastlines across much of the Pacific, including the U.S. West Coast.
"Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii," U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post.
"A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States."
A separate live aerial shot of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu showed a normally bustling shoreline devoid of any people, an indication that tourists and residents there were heeding the evacuation warnings.
Earthquakes of magnitude 8 or above since 1900
'RING OF FIRE'
Several people in Kamchatka sought medical assistance following the quake, Oleg Melnikov, regional health minister, told Russia’s TASS state news agency.
"Unfortunately, there are some people injured during the seismic event. Some were hurt while running outside, and one patient jumped out of a window. A woman was also injured inside the new airport terminal,” Melnikov said.
Power to the Sakhalin region had been cut off due to damage to the electricity grid, Russia's RIA news agency said, citing the regional governor.
Kamchatka and Russia's Far East sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The Russian Academy of Sciences said it was the strongest quake to hit the region since 1952.
"However, due to certain characteristics of the epicentre, the shaking intensity was not as high ... as one might expect from such a magnitude," said Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service, on Telegram.
“Aftershocks are currently ongoing ... Their intensity will remain fairly high. However, stronger tremors are not expected in the near future. The situation is under control.”
The Kamchatka branch of Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram that a tsunami wave up to 32 cm (1 foot) high may reach the coast.
The Japan Weather Agency said it expected a tsunami of up to 1 metre (3.3 feet) to reach large coastal areas starting around 0100 GMT.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued a warning of "hazardous tsunami waves" within the next three hours along some coasts of Russia and Japan. A tsunami watch was also in effect for the U.S. island territory of Guam and other islands of Micronesia.
Japan upgrades tsunami warning to 3 metres
Japan Meteorological Agency says "tsunamis will strike repeatedly. Do not enter the sea or approach the coast until the warning is lifted"
Where is Kamchatka?
Kamchatka and Russia's Far East sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region that is prone to major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Klyuchevskoy volcano erupts, spews Ash 3km high in Russia’s Kamchatka
Russia's Klyuchevskoy volcano has ejected an ash column up to 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) into the sky, the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) reported on Tuesday.
According to the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the ash plume has spread 58 kilometers (36 miles) east of the volcano. KVERT warned that explosive activity at the summit continues and future ash emissions could reach altitudes of up to 8 kilometers (4.9 miles), potentially affecting low-flying aircraft.
“The crater is almost filled with lava, we are expecting lava flows,” KVERT added.
An orange aviation hazard code has been issued, though international air routes do not pass through the area.
