Massive Far East Russia Quake Triggers Tsunami Alerts Across the Pacific

A powerful earthquake, one of the strongest in history, struck the remote Far East of Russia early Wednesday. This seismic event generated tsunamis reaching heights of four meters (12 feet) across the Pacific Ocean, prompting evacuations from Hawaii to Japan.

The magnitude 8.8 quake, which struck at 8:24 a.m. off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on the Kamchatka Peninsula, is recognized as one of the ten most intense earthquakes ever documented, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Russian officials reported that a tsunami impacted and inundated the port town of Severo-Kurilsk. Local media indicated that waves between three and four meters high were recorded in the Elizovsky district of Kamchatka.

Footage shared on Russian social media appeared to reveal buildings in the town submerged in ocean water. Authorities evacuated the local population of approximately 2,000 residents.

While several injuries were reported due to the earthquake in Russia, state media indicated that none were serious.

“It felt like the walls were shaking,” a resident of Elizovsky told the Russian military broadcaster Zvezda.

“We are fortunate that we had a suitcase ready by the door with water and clothes. We quickly grabbed it and ran out… It was terrifying,” she recounted.

In the Sakhalin region of Russia, officials declared a state of emergency in the northern Kuril Islands, where the tsunami damaged infrastructure and caused flooding. The mayor reported that “everyone” in the area had evacuated to safety.

Countries along the Pacific Rim in North and South America, including the U.S., Mexico, and Ecuador, issued warnings advising people to avoid the affected beaches.

In Japan, residents evacuated to higher ground, whether by car or on foot, including those in Hokkaido, where an initial wave measuring 30 centimeters was recorded. As of midday, there were no reports of injuries or damage in Japan.

In Hawaii, Mayor Rick Blangiardi urged residents and the thousands of tourists to seek safety on elevated floors or at higher ground.

“People should not linger around the shoreline or jeopardize their lives just to witness a tsunami,” Governor Josh Green stated, emphasizing the dangers. “This is not a regular wave. It can be deadly if you are caught in a tsunami,” he warned.

According to the regional seismic monitoring service, Wednesday’s quake was the most powerful in the Kamchatka region since 1952, with alerts for aftershocks potentially reaching a magnitude of 7.5.

The earthquake’s epicenter is nearly the same as the potent 9.0 quake from 1952, which triggered a catastrophic tsunami across the Pacific, as noted by the USGS.

At least six aftershocks have further shaken the region, including one registering 6.9 and another at 6.3.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers reported the possibility of waves exceeding three meters above tide levels along certain coasts of Ecuador, northwestern Hawaiian islands, and portions of Russia.

Additionally, waves between one and three meters were expected along various coasts in Chile, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, and other Pacific islands and island groups.

Waves of up to one meter were predicted for locations such as Australia, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand, Tonga, and Taiwan.

In Chiba Prefecture, Japan, a security perimeter was established at Inage Beach, and a rescuer informed AFP that the seaside area was off-limits until further notice.

“I didn’t expect a tsunami to occur. I even joked about it when we received the alert,” remarked Canadian tourist Leana Lussier, 17.

“We had intended to go swimming, but after hearing the tsunami warning, we stayed far away from the water,” said local resident Tomoyo Fujita, 35, as she left with her young daughter.

Television footage captured several whales washed ashore.

Workers at the Fukushima nuclear facility in northeastern Japan, which was severely affected by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, were evacuated, the operator reported.

In California, tsunami alerts were sent to mobile phones, as reported by AFP.

“STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!” stated U.S. President Donald Trump on social media.

Tsunami sirens echoed around Hawaii’s popular Waikiki surf beach, where an AFP photographer documented traffic jams as residents hurried to higher ground.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers issued a Tsunami Warning, its highest alert level, for the entire state of Hawaii, with the first waves anticipated at 7:17 p.m. local time.

People were specifically advised to avoid the beaches and refrain from approaching the coast, the seismology center warned.

Boats were directed to move to open waters in anticipation of incoming waves as high as two meters, while government workers in Honolulu were sent home early.