A powerful 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, July 30. The tremor triggered a strong tsunami that hit the northern Kuril Islands and forced authorities to urgently evacuate the town of Severo-Kurilsk in the Sakhalin region.
Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko confirmed that the first tsunami wave reached the shores of Severo-Kurilsk shortly after the earthquake. Authorities acted quickly, moving around 2,500 people to higher ground to ensure their safety.
“Residents remain safe on high ground until the tsunami threat is completely lifted,” Governor Limarenko said. He added that emergency teams are fully prepared and are doing everything necessary to protect residents and restore daily life.
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Local media shared dramatic footage showing tsunami alarms going off while people rushed uphill as water levels began to rise along the coast. The Alaid fish processing plant in Severo-Kurilsk was flooded, but all workers were evacuated safely. So far, officials have not reported any injuries or major damage.
Elena Semenova, the head of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk seismic station, told RIA Novosti that the entire Kuril Islands chain remains under tsunami alert due to the earthquake’s intensity.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov called it the strongest earthquake to hit the region in a decade. He said teams are inspecting critical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and kindergartens to assess any damage.
