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Powerful 8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Russia’s Coast, Triggering Pacific-Wide Tsunami Warnings
A massive earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck off the eastern coast of Russia near the Kamchatka Peninsula late Tuesday night into Wednesday, triggering tsunami waves that reached the northern coastal areas of the Kuril Islands.
The Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that over 30 aftershocks were recorded following the main earthquake, raising concerns about continued seismic activity in the region.
The violent quake prompted a wave of alerts and evacuations across the Pacific. Authorities in Japan, China, the United States, Peru, Mexico, and Ecuador issued tsunami warnings, urging residents in coastal areas to evacuate and suspending all maritime activities.
In Japan, officials confirmed a short tsunami wave reached the northern island of Hokkaido. Similarly, brief tsunami waves were recorded along the shores of Hawaii and California in the United States.
The U.S. National Weather Service later announced that the tsunami threat had been lifted for several Pacific islands, though minor sea level fluctuations could persist for some time.
This seismic event has once again highlighted the ongoing tectonic volatility of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” one of the most geologically active zones on Earth.
