TOKYO: A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest ever recorded, struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, generating tsunami waves up to four meters high across the Pacific and prompting widespread evacuations from Hawaii to Japan.
The quake occurred at 8:24 am local time (2304 GMT Tuesday), shaking Russia’s sparsely populated Far East. The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed it as one of the top 10 strongest earthquakes ever documented.
In Severo-Kurilsk, a tsunami flooded parts of the port town, forcing around 2,000 residents to evacuate. Footage on Russian social media showed buildings partially submerged. Authorities also reported tsunami waves of 3–4 meters in Kamchatka’s Elizovsky district.
Minor injuries were reported, but no fatalities. A resident described the moment as terrifying, noting they fled with a pre-packed emergency bag. A state of emergency was declared in the northern Kuril Islands after buildings were damaged and widespread flooding occurred.
Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov confirmed that all residents in the affected area had safely evacuated.
The Pacific-wide impact led to tsunami warnings from countries like the US, Mexico, Ecuador, Japan, and others. In Hokkaido, Japan, waves of 30 cm were recorded. Authorities closed off coastal areas, including Inage Beach in Chiba, where whales washed ashore.
Hawaii's governor urged people to avoid coastlines and seek higher ground, warning that tsunami waves are deadly and not ordinary surf. Honolulu officials evacuated workers and vessels ahead of expected waves up to 2 meters.
This was Kamchatka’s strongest quake since 1952. Aftershocks up to magnitude 7.5 were recorded, with additional quakes measuring 6.9 and 6.3.
The US Tsunami Warning Center highlighted that hazardous waves up to three meters could affect numerous coastal regions across the Pacific.
