A powerful earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Tuesday. As a result, both Japan and the United States issued tsunami warnings. So far, officials have not reported any injuries.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that the quake struck about 136 kilometers (85 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city in Kamchatka. It hit at a shallow depth of just 19 kilometers (12 miles), which increases the risk of severe shaking and large tsunami waves. Authorities described it as the strongest earthquake in the region in decades.
Soon after the quake, both Japan’s Meteorological Agency and the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center raised alarms.
In Japan, officials warned of possible tsunami waves reaching up to 1 meter (3.3 feet). They expected the waves to strike coastal areas around 0100 GMT. In a public advisory, the agency stated on X (formerly Twitter), “A tsunami advisory has been issued as of 08:37 (2337 GMT) on July 30... Tsunamis will strike repeatedly. Do not enter the sea or approach the coast until the warning is lifted.” Meanwhile, the U.S. issued advisories for coastal areas in Alaska and Hawaii, urging people to stay alert and move away from the shoreline.
In Russia, the regional governor confirmed that a kindergarten building suffered damage, but thankfully, no one got hurt. He urged residents living near the coast to evacuate to higher ground immediately, due to the ongoing tsunami threat.
Despite the lack of casualties so far, emergency services remain on high alert. Officials continue to monitor the situation. They have also advised people in affected areas to remain indoors, avoid low-lying zones, and wait for further instructions.
