6th Biggest Earthquake Ever Recorded Strikes Pacific, Triggers Widespread Tsunamis: What We Know So Far
The magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit offshore of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's far east on the evening of Tuesday, July 29, at a depth of about 13 miles (21 kilometers), according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located roughly 74 miles (120 kilometers) west-northwest of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, home to nearly 200,000 people.
The powerful quake triggered tsunami warnings and advisories for a wide swath of the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast, and as far south as New Zealand, though warnings were being downgraded in most areas Wednesday morning, the Associated Press reports. As of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, several tsunami advisories remained in place along the West Coast, including in parts of Alaska, Oregon, and California, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.
This is an ongoing story that will be updated with new information, so please check back.
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