Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Shakes Russia and Japan, Triggers Pacific Tsunami and Global Warning as Far as Hawaii and the US

The Shiro Copr – One of the strongest earthquakes in modern history shook the North Pacific area on Wednesday (7/30) morning local time at, the tsunami that spread to various regions and triggered emergency warnings as far as Hawaii, Alaska, and the western coast of North America.

The epicenter of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake was located in far eastern Russia, specifically on the Kamchatka Peninsula, with effects felt as far as Japan, the Philippines, and New Zealand.

Reported from CBS42 , Wednesday (7/30), a tsunami of 40 centimeters in height was detected in Tokachi, on the southern coast of Hokkaido Island, Japan. Meanwhile, the Severo-Kurilsk area in the Kuril Islands, Russia, became the first area affected by the tsunami waves.

Local governor, Valery Limarenko, stated that all residents have been evacuated to higher ground and are in safe condition. Although there was damage to buildings and disruptions in the power and communication networks in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with about 180,000 inhabitants, there are no reports of serious injuries.

An earthquake occurred at 08:25 Japan time, with a depth of 20.7 kilometers and its epicenter located about 119 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) stated that this earthquake was the strongest in the area since 1952. A series of aftershocks were also reported, including one that reached magnitude 6.9.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that the tsunami from this earthquake has the potential to cause damage along the entire coastline of Hawaii. Tsunami warning sirens sounded in Honolulu on Tuesday night, and residents were asked to evacuate to higher ground.

"Immediate action must be taken to protect lives and property," said the official warning from US authorities.

The state of Oregon, United States, is also on tsunami alert along with most of the western coastal areas, including California, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. The Oregon Emergency Management authorities predict small waves up to 30 to 60 centimeters high will begin hitting the coast around 11:40 PM local time, and they warn the public to stay away from the beaches, harbors, and marinas.

On the other hand, Japan reported that all nuclear power plants located on the Pacific coast showed no signs of disruption. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was previously affected by a major tsunami in 2011, stated that approximately 4,000 workers had been evacuated to safe areas but continued remote monitoring to ensure the safety of the facility.

Similar warnings were also issued by the Philippine authorities, urging residents in the eastern coastal areas to stay away from the beaches even though the potential waves are expected to be less than one meter. Teresito Bacolcol, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said that small tsunami waves can last for hours and endanger those in the waters.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand government issued a national alert regarding "strong and unusual currents and unpredictable waves" along the entire coastline. Residents were asked to stay away from the beaches, harbors, and estuary areas until the warning is lifted. The country is about 9,600 kilometers away from the earthquake epicenter.

The Russian Academy of Sciences Geophysical Institute stated that the current situation is still under control, although it warned of the possibility of aftershocks that may last up to a month. They also advised the public to avoid visiting certain coastal areas in Kamchatka in the near future.

This earthquake is the strongest globally since the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck northeastern Japan in March 2011, causing a devastating tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Only a few earthquakes in the world have been recorded with a strength higher than 8.8, making this event one of the most significant geological occurrences in recent decades. (*)