A powerful earthquake occurred 161 km off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, with tsunami warnings issued in some areas. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) estimated the earthquake's magnitude at 8.8.
It was initially reported as a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, but later assessments confirmed its strength reached 8.5. The earthquake occurred 161 km from the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at a depth of 32 km. Several tremors had been observed earlier in the night and during the day.
"While the EMSC indicated the main earthquake's magnitude as 8.7, the aftershocks were estimated at 7.0 or lower," the report stated.
According to the Geophysical Service, a tsunami warning was declared along the Avacha Bay coast following the earthquake. The Kamchatka region's EMERCOM press service reported that the tsunami wave height could reach up to 32 centimeters. The waves may not be very high, but residents were advised to move away from coastal areas.
Waves of this height could reach the Aleutian Islands, while waves up to 20 cm were expected near Ust-Kamchatsk, and waves up to 6 cm near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
EMERCOM urged citizens not to go to the shore to watch the tsunami. Ships in coastal waters and ports were advised to move out to the ocean.
According to Kamchatka's Minister of Emergency Situations, Sergey Lebedev, a tsunami wave of 3-4 meters was recorded in the Yelizovo district. He called on residents to avoid approaching the coastline.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov described this earthquake as the strongest in decades.
"Specialists have already begun inspections to assess possible damage to socially significant facilities. Schools, hospitals, and kindergartens are being prioritized," he wrote on his Telegram channel.
In one of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky's kindergartens, a wall collapsed due to the earthquake. Work hours were shortened in government institutions, and local authorities and other organizations were advised to take similar measures.
Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko reported a powerful 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Severo-Kurilsk on the Northern Kuril Islands. A tsunami warning was also issued there, and evacuation efforts were underway.
Japan issued tsunami warnings for areas along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Wakayama Prefecture, with waves up to 3 meters expected. Similar warnings were also issued for parts of Hawaii and Alaska.
