On Wednesday, a massive earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale of the Russian distant Peninsula Kamchatka and set off warning Tsunami across parts of the Pacific, including Russia, Japan and Alaska. The earthquake, among the strongest recorded in the region in decades, caused extensive tremor and panic, but no reported victims so far.
According to US geological survey (USGS), the epicenter was located about 125 km southeast of Petropavlovlov Kamchatic, along the Gulf of Avacha. The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 19.3 km, which intensified its intensity. The USGS initially recorded the size at 8.0 before its upgrade to the powerful 8.8.
Scary moments captured on the camera
Videos circulating on social media captured scary moments when the earthquake hit. In one clip, the furniture is trembling inside the house, while the other shows the building a swaying alarming force. One video even shows the exact moment when the earthquake was detected by Russian seismic monitoring systems, an alarm that takes place because the data appear in real time.
Officials reported damage to buildings, including kindergarten, but confirmed that there was no injury from the latest updates. Governor Kamchatka Vladimir Solodov called it “the strongest earthquake that the region has experienced in decades.”
Warning and evacuation of tsunami
The Tsunami warning system warned that “dangerous tsunami waves” could affect the coastal areas of Russia and Japan within hours. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a warning to the Tsunami and expected that the waves of up to 3 meters along its Pacific coast between 10:00 and 11:30 local time.
In response to the threat, according to Sakhalinský Governor Valera Limarenko, orders were issued to evacuation in North-Kuril, a small town south of the peninsula. Russian emergency services reported a wave of tsunami up to 32 cm, which has already reached the coast in some areas.
The watch tsunami was also introduced for parts of Alaska, Guam and Micronesia because the authorities carefully monitored the situation.
An area on a fiery circle
The Russian Kamchatka Peninsula lies along the Pacific Fire Ring, one of the most seismically active regions in the world, known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Wednesday earthquake serves as a significant reminder of geological volatility in this area.
As the evaluation continues, the authorities in the region remain in high readiness for shocks and other tsunami.
(tagstotranslate) tsunami Warning
