Early morning tremors of a colossal earthquake were detected in Russia's far eastern territory of Kamchatka. With a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale, the quake's epicenter was under the sea, as affirmed by the US Geological Survey (USGS), triggering a tsunami alert for Japan and the west coast of the US including California.
Tsunami alerts have been echoed along the coastlines of Russia, Japan, and California. The possibility of waves rising up to three feet could potentially wreak havoc in various regions.
Stay updated with news related to the Russian earthquake and tsunami alerts here:
- Heavy traffic jams can be seen in Hawaii amid tsunami alerts. Both locals and tourists are evacuating, fearing waves between three to twelve feet high.
- In Japan, as a precautionary measure, the Fukushima Nuclear Plant has been evacuated. This reminiscent of the 2011 disaster when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami severely damaged the plant, leading to a meltdown and radioactive leaks.
- Though there's currently no tsunami threat in New Zealand and Australia, local authorities urge vigilance.
- Kamchatka has already been hit by five earthquakes this month. On November 4, 1952, an earthquake of magnitude 9 caused significant damage here.
- This earthquake in Kamchatka is considered the strongest since 1952.
- Kamchatka, a peninsula in Russia, is located in the far east, edged by the Pacific Ocean, Siberia to its east, northward is the Bering Sea, with Japan to its south.
- Regions including American Samoa, Antarctica, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Howland and Baker Islands, Indonesia, Jarvis Island, Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Midway Island, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Palmyra Island, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Samoa, Taiwan, Tonga, and Vanuatu could potentially experience the impact of the tsunami.
- The World's Top 10 Most Powerful Earthquakes:
1. Chile (1960) Richter Scale: 9.5
Known as the Great Chile or Valdivia Earthquake, the most potent quake till date claimed 1,655 lives and left over 2 million homeless.
2. Alaska (1964) Richter Scale: 9.2
The Great Alaska or Good Friday Earthquake in 1964 caused the loss of 130 lives and economic damages worth 2.3 billion dollars.
3. Sumatra, Indonesia (2004) Richter Scale: 9.1
The disastrous quake triggered a tsunami that devastated South Asia and East Africa, killing over 280,000 people and displacing 1.1 million.
4. Tohoku, Japan (2011) Richter Scale: 9.1
Famously known as the Great Tohoku Earthquake, it claimed over 15,000 lives and displaced 1.3 million people.
5. Kamchatka (1952) Russia Richter Scale: 9.0
The cataclysmic Kamchatka quake reached as far as Hawaii, causing over a million dollars in damages.
6. Chile (2010) Richter Scale: 8.8
This quake in the Bio-Bio region killed 523 people and destroyed more than 370,000 homes, originating from beneath the sea.
7. Ecuador (1906) Richter Scale: 8.8
This catastrophic quake near the Ecuador-Colombia border triggered a tsunami, claiming 1,500 lives.
8. Alaska, USA (1965) Richter Scale: 8.7
A 35-feet high tsunami was generated near the Rat Islands, yet being sparsely populated, it recorded limited damage.
9. Arunachal Pradesh, India (1950) Richter Scale: 8.6
Known as the Assam-Tibet Earthquake, it wreaked havoc killing 780 people.
10. Sumatra, Indonesia (2012) Richter Scale: 8.6
This bustling earthquake off the coast of Northern Sumatra caused minimal casualties, with some deaths due to heart attacks.
US Geological Survey (USGS) reported this quake originated at a shallow depth (approximately 19.3 kilometers), increasing the potential for strong surface shocks and tsunamis.
Reports from Russia's TASS agency mention minor injuries due to the quake.
Tsunami alerts have been issued for Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kantō's Izu and Ogasawara Islands in Japan, with meteorological agencies predicting waves up to one meter high along the Japanese coast.
Source: aajtak
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been briefed, and the government has convened an emergency meeting to coordinate relief and rescue efforts. A recent series of earthquakes including a significant 7.4 strength quake occurred in the sea near Kamchatka in July.
Tsunami could ravage Japan
The US Tsunami Warning Center has indicated the arrival of dangerous tsunami waves in parts of Russia and Japan within the next three hours. Further, minor waves may extend to the Philippines, Marshall Islands, Palau, and other surrounding islands.
Regional Governor of Russia confirmed no serious injuries yet except minor damage to a kindergarten. He labels this event the most intense earthquake in decades, urging coastal residents to move to safer grounds immediately.
Rescue Operations Underway in Severo-Kurilsk, Russia
Evacuation efforts are ongoing in the small city of Severo-Kurilsk, Sakhalin, post-earthquake and tsunami threats. Sakhalin's governor attests to the rigorous emergency procedures ensuring the populace's security. Local authorities strongly urge residents to follow emergency directives and stay clear of rumors.
