How does massive 8.8 earthquake off Russia measure against the biggest ever?
The 8.8 magnitude tremor erupted in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's far east early this morning.
In Hawaii, roads have become clogged with residents seeking to flee to higher ground, while Japan has closed down its nuclear power plant at Fukushima Daiichi and put nearly two million people on notice to evacuate.
Follow the latest updates on the earthquake on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula with Metro's live blog
Josh Green, the governor of Hawaii, said: 'God willing, these waves will not hurt us. But you have to assume, assume, they will be life-threatening.'
Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Centre in Alaska, said the quake – the most powerful recorded since 2011 – is 'absolutely notable' and 'a significant earth event'.
But how does it measure up to the biggest on record?
Here's a glance at some of the most powerful earthquakes recorded previously, according to the US Geological Survey.
1. Biobío, Chile
A 9.5 magnitude earthquake struck in a central region of Chile in 1960.
Known as the Valdivia earthquake or Great Chilean earthquake, the largest ever recorded temblor resulted in more than 1,600 deaths in the country and beyond, most of which were caused by resulting large tsunami.
Thousands of people were injured.
2. Alaska
In 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake jolted the Alaska's Prince William Sound, lasting for almost five minutes.
More than 130 people were killed in the largest recorded earthquake in the US and subsequent tsunami.
There were huge landslides and towering waves that caused severe flooding.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The event was followed by thousands of aftershocks for weeks after the initial quake.
3. Sumatra, Indonesia
A 9.1 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami devastated Southeast and South Asia and East Africa in 2004, killing 230,000 people.
Indonesia alone recorded more than 167,000 deaths as entire communities were wiped out.
4. Tohoku, Japan
A magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan in 2011, triggering a towering tsunami that smashed into the Fukushima nuclear plant.
It knocked out power and cooling systems and triggered meltdowns in three reactors.
More than 18,000 people were killed in the quake and tsunami, some of whom have never been recovered.
5. Kamchatka, Russia
In 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake caused significant damage but no reported deaths despite a tsunami that hit Hawaii with 30-foot waves.
6. Biobío, Chile
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Chile in 2010, shaking the capital for a minute and half and setting off a tsunami.
More than 500 people were killed in the disaster.
7. Esmeraldas, Ecuador
In 1906, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami killed about 1,500 people.
Its effects were felt for miles along the Central American coast and as far as San Francisco and Japan.
8. Alaska
In 1965, a magnitude 8.7 quake struck Alaska's Rat Islands, causing a 35-foot -high tsunami.
There was some relatively minor damage, including cracks in buildings and an asphalt runway.
9. Tibet
At least 780 people were killed when a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck in 1950.
Dozens of villages were destroyed, including at least one that slid into a river.
There were also major landslides that jammed the Subansiri River in India. More Trending
When the water eventually broke through, it resulted in a deadly 23-foot wave.
10. Sumatra, Indonesia
In 2012, a powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra in Indonesia.
Though the quake caused little damage, it increased pressure on a fault that was the source of the devastating 2004 tsunami.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
New York City shaken by earthquake for second time in DAYS as 2.8 tremors hit New Jersey
THE second earthquake in the past week has hit New Jersey as shaking could be felt in New York City on Tuesday afternoon. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2.7 magnitude earthquake in Hillsdale, New Jersey, at 12:11 p.m. On Aug. 2, a 3.0 magnitude earthquake was reported in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, shaking the New York City area. "Okay I just felt an earthquake in nyc again," one user posted on X. "ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE IN NY WHATS GOING ON," another tweeted. New York City Emergency Management tweeted that tremors could have been felt in certain parts of the city, and that it was monitoring for impacts. There were no immediate "major impacts reported," according to the agency. .
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Jet2 and Loganair send message after Storm Floris sparks 'do not travel' alerts
Holidaymakers attempting to escape Storm Floris today have been advised to check their flights for any disruption. Storm Floris has hit parts of the UK this morning, with the north of England, Scotland, north Wales and Northern Ireland set to experience the worst weather. The Met Office say the storm has potential to cause 'injuries and danger to life' and will bring 'unseasonably strong and potentially disruptive winds'. Rail operators including Avanti and ScotRail have warned of fewer than normal services, while LNER have told customers 'do not travel north of Newcastle.' And, the delays have extended to the skies too, with Loganair delaying several flights this morning. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. The airline, which primarily serves the Highlands and an island communities, released a statement on its website which read: 'We plan to fly all our scheduled services. Standby aircraft and crews are in place to help recover disrupted services as soon as weather permits.' However, Loganair is also offering travellers a chance to reschedule: 'You can choose to re-book on an alternative flight up to 7 days from your original travel date. For up to date information and the latest updates on Storm Floris read Metro's Live Blog. 'There will be no change fee or difference in fare payable. If a seat is available on an alternative flight, you can transfer your booking to that flight without charge on a first-come, first-served basis.' Elswhere, airlines are reassuring customers. Jet2 said on its website that 'flights are expected to operate as scheduled'. However, it added: 'If your flight is affected, we will have the later updates here and also via SMS, email and the Jet2 app. You can log into Manage my Booking to ensure your details are correct. We look forward to welcoming you on board.' Metro has also reached out to Easyjet and Ryanair for comment. You can, but it's highly unlikely you'll be able to recuperate any costs. If the flight or holiday you had booked is still scheduled to go ahead as planned, then normal cancellation rules still apply – which means you'll at least lose some, if not all, of the money you paid. If you still intend to go on your trip, but your flight is cancelled, this is when you have some consumer rights. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, UK and EU airlines must look after you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. This includes everything from meals and accommodation to an alternative flight if necessary. Citizen's Advice says that airlines should also give impacted passengers access to phone calls and emails and, if they offer you a play to stay, organise the journeys between the hotel and the airport. Sometimes, the airline will cover this by handing you vouchers at the airport. When in doubt, keep any receipts for expenses and claim them back afterwards from the airliner. But an airliner will only cough up money for 'reasonable' expenses. The hotel minibar or penthouse suites likely can't be expensed. If you didn't book with a UK or EU airline, you'll need to check their terms and conditions. Though, for the most part, airlines should provide meals and accommodation as appropriate. Whether you're eligible for the above depends on the distance of your flight and how long you have waited: For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less) you must have been waiting for two hours or more. For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours) it's three hours or more. For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more) it's four hours or more. If your flight is covered by UK law, you can choose between either getting your cancelled flight refunded or being booked on an alternative route. Any part of your ticket you haven't used is eligible for a refund. So, if you were on a return flight to Heathrow, for example, and the outbound leg was cancelled, you can get that part of the journey refunded. You'll typically get your money back within a week. But not everyone is up for being stuck mid-layover. If you still want to travel, your airline must find a way to get you to your destination. This can include, say, if another airliner is flying to where you need to go soon or if there's another form of transport you can take. All at no extra cost. Check if the company you booked with is a member of ABTA, a trade association for tour operators and travel agents. It has a guide here on what you can do if your flight has been cancelled. What the law calls 'extraordinary circumstances' can include a fire, bird strikes, defects with a plane, or bad weather. But none of these entitles impacted passengers to extra compensation, consumer watchdog Which? says. They're largely considered outside the airline's control. In other circumstances, however, it's a different story. You have several rights under the law if your journey is impacted by staff shortages, airline staff walkouts or if your flight was delayed because bad weather delayed a previous flight. What you're entitled to depends on the cause of the cancellation and how much notice the airline gave you. This can range from £220 for short-haul flights, £350 for mid-haul and £520 for long-haul. There might be things you do end up paying for. But you might be able to claim for them afterwards. More Trending This can include unused accommodation, where you'll need to contact your credit card provider or a travel insurance firm. As much as 94% of travel insurance policies travel abandonment, only 30% include wider travel disruption, according to analysts Defaqto. Travel insurance doesn't cover any loss of earnings if the delayed or cancelled flight means you can't work. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I visited the 'world's most fun airport' that makes family holidays easy MORE: How did Storm Floris get its name and what comes next in 2025? MORE: Rail passengers warned not to travel north of Newcastle when Storm Floris hits
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
No tsunami threat to Hawaii from 7-magnitude earthquake near Russia's Kuril Islands, officials say
Hawaii officials have confirmed there is no tsunami threat to the state after a powerful magnitude-7 earthquake struck Russia 's Kuril Islands on Sunday. Oahu Emergency Management confirmed the quake posed no danger to Hawaii. The Pacific Tsunami Warning System also reported that no tsunami alert had been issued. The US Geological Survey put it at magnitude 7 while the German Research Center for Geosciences measured the quake at 6.7 magnitude, initially reporting 6.35, with a depth of 10km (6.2 miles). The quake comes just days after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in the same region triggered tsunami alerts as far away as Japan, Indonesia, Australia, the United States, and Chile. That event was followed by rare volcanic activity in Kamchatka, including the first confirmed eruption of the Krasheninnikov Volcano in 600 years, which scientists believe may have been linked to the earlier quake.
