Kamchatka in Chaos: Residents Share Terrifying Experiences of Irresistible 8.8 Earthquake

The Kamchatka region of Russia experienced one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, leaving residents in shock as buildings trembled around them.

The earthquake, measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, struck near the Kamchatka peninsula early Wednesday morning. It triggered tsunamis reaching up to four meters (12 feet) in height across the Pacific Ocean, prompting evacuations across regions from Hawaii to Japan.

State media reported several injuries in Russia due to the earthquake, although none were serious.

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, located 149 kilometers (93 miles) from the epicenter, residents recounted swaying buildings, tumbling furniture, «dancing» vehicles, and even shaking cranes at the harbor.

Yevgeny Belyaev, the mayor of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, stated that emergency services were on high alert and assessing the damage. Although part of a kindergarten facade fell, fortunately, no injuries occurred.

«Everything is okay, but everyone is completely rattled. It was the most powerful quake we’ve felt in decades,» a local resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Moscow Times.

“It’s honestly surprising that there wasn’t more destruction, aside from one school,” he added. «Fortunately, no one was inside.»

He mentioned that his relatives in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky are considering relocating to their dacha due to the recent seismic activity, and that many others seem to be following suit.

“For the time being, they’ll be at the dacha,” he said. “It’s been shaking there for some time. The ground has been unsettled for months.”

Other residents of Kamchatka took to social media to share their experiences.

«People gathered outside our building. Everyone came out, one woman in curlers and another in a single sock but wearing slippers,» one person wrote. «Some were even in pajamas. Later, someone went out to grab a thermos, and everyone enjoyed tea together.»

«I’ve lived in Kamchatka for 42 years, but I’ve never felt an earthquake like this one. I screamed, ‘God help me!’ even though I usually stay calm during quakes. Everything in my house was thrown around,» another person shared.

Some business owners seemed to be attempting to profit from the situation, as one resident noted a sharp increase in resort prices as people sought refuge in safer areas.

«My neighbors were hurriedly packing their car with clothes and supplies,» they stated. «They say resort prices have skyrocketed by ten times.»

As reported by the local newspaper Argumenti i Fakti, ambulance services received a surge of calls following the earthquake, with residents reporting issues like high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and seizures.

«I’ve never witnessed an earthquake while outside, but today I did,» said another witness. «It was terrifying! The bushes and cars were shaking! You could see the windows in the houses vibrating.»

Even children shared their thoughts on social media about the event.

«I am 10 years old and was home alone while my mom was at work,» one child wrote. «I was asleep when I felt a strong shaking! I rushed into the corridor. About 30-40 minutes later, my mom came running home and hugged me in tears. We were really scared!»

Reporting contributed by Mack Tubridy.