Tokyo/Moscow (National Times): A massive 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday triggered powerful tsunami waves that struck the coastlines of Japan and Russia, prompting mass evacuations and causing significant damage.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake, recorded at a depth of 19 kilometres, was centred roughly 125 km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It ranks as the sixth-largest earthquake ever recorded.
Widespread Evacuations and Damage
The tsunami waves, reaching up to 4 metres high, damaged ports and submerged coastal areas in Russia and Japan. Viral videos on social media showed buildings near the Russian coast inundated by seawater.
In Japan, NHK warned that larger waves could follow and urged residents in northern and eastern coastal regions, including Hokkaido and areas as far south as Wakayama near Osaka, to remain alert. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had earlier forecast tsunami waves of up to 3 metres.
In addition to infrastructure damage, BNO News reported that four whales washed ashore on the Japanese coastline following the waves.
Emergency Response in Russia and Japan
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov described the quake as “the strongest in decades,” adding that emergency services had ordered immediate evacuations in coastal towns. In Severo-Kurilsk, residents were instructed to leave their homes and move to higher ground.
Russia’s emergency ministry and Japan’s disaster response units deployed resources to assist affected areas, while authorities continued to monitor for potential aftershocks.
Broader Tsunami Alerts
Tsunami warnings extended beyond Russia and Japan to Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific islands. U.S. officials placed several Micronesian islands under tsunami watch as a precaution.
Despite the devastation, officials in both countries credited early-warning systems and rapid evacuation efforts for preventing larger-scale casualties.
As of now, authorities remain on high alert, with ongoing assessments of coastal damage and monitoring for secondary waves.
