Tsunami threat lifted in Russia's Kamchatka after powerful quake
Its epicentre, according to the Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was 115 km from the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The larger quake was at a depth of 20 kilometers and occurred 144 kilometers east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000, according to the US Geological Survey.
A few minutes earlier, a quake with a magnitude of 6.7 was recorded nearby.
The PTWC initially said there was a danger of major tsunami waves but later downgraded its warning before finally saying the danger had passed.
According to Russian media, the tremors were felt for roughly a minute, causing people to run out of buildings. The press service of the Main Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the region said that specialists will begin examination of the buildings as soon as possible.
Local services went into high alert mode. There were no immediate information of possible damage or casualties. On 4 November 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka caused damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-meter waves in Hawaii. (Agencies)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Pacific states breathe easier after huge quake triggers tsunami scare
DPA Moscow/Tokyo A massive earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula sent tsunami waves in the paths of millions of people in countries across the Pacific on Wednesday. From Japan, China and the Philippines to Hawaii, the US West Coast and Latin American countries like Mexico and Ecuador, warnings and evacuation order were issued due to the threat of potentially life-threatening, meter-high waves. Yet more than half a day after the quake rocked Russia's Far East, there were no reports of major damage. In most regions, tsunami warnings were downgraded or, like in Russia and Japan, lifted entirely. The danger was not over, however. Chile was still calling for mainland coastal regions to be evacuated, while on Easter Island the coastal promenade in Hanga Roa was closed, though most residents live in higher, safer areas, according to Radio Cooperativa. World's strongest earthquake in 14 years The main quake, which hit at about 11:24 am local time on Wednesday (2324 GMT Tuesday), was recorded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) at magnitude 8.8 - the strongest globally since Japan's Fukushima disaster in March 2011, and one of the six most powerful earthquakes ever measured. Russian authorities reported a magnitude of 8.7. According to the Russian Academy of Sciences, it was the strongest earthquake to hit Kamchatka since 1952. The epicentre was in the open sea, about 130 kilometres from the sparsely populated coastline. Dozens of aftershocks were recorded, many above magnitude 5. The two strongest were measured at 6.9 and 6.3 by the USGS. Minimal damage in Russia No major flood waves were recorded on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Russian Civil Defence Ministry said on Telegram. A beach was evacuated as a precaution, with around 60 people brought to safety. Most buildings withstood the quake, though structural inspections are ongoing, it said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no casualties had been reported and that alert systems functioned as intended. In the regional capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, frightened residents fled outside barefoot, according to the Russian news agency TASS. According to civil protection officials, parts of the port of Severo-Kurilsk and a fisheries company were flooded. Japan evacuates Fukushima site On Japan's Pacific coast, a wave measuring 1.3 metres was recorded in a port in Iwate Prefecture, with up to 80-centimetre waves in other coastal regions, local media reported. Authorities had issued tsunami warnings for waves up to 3 metres high. Northern Japan lies geographically closest to the quake zone. Later, the Japanese Meteorological Agency downgraded its regional alerts, although advisories were still in place. More than 2 million people had been asked to evacuate earlier in the day. Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were evacuated due to the tsunami warning. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) confirmed to the Japan Times that all staff reached higher ground safely. The facility was the site of a major nuclear disaster in March 2011, when an earthquake and tsunami triggered multiple reactor meltdowns. Warnings for Hawaii, US West Coast Initial tsunami waves reached Hawaii Tuesday evening, with a peak of 1.5 metres. The US downgraded its warning by early Wednesday and life on the archipelago had returned to normal. Warnings were also issued along the US West Coast, Alaska, Canada's British Columbia, and parts of Latin America. In Asia, China lifted its alert for coastal Zhejiang and Shanghai, while Taiwan also called off its alert. The Philippines and Indonesia later withdrew warnings after only minor sea level changes were observed. Volcano erupts in Russia's Far East Hours after the earthquake rocked Kamchatka, the region's highest volcano began erupting. Geophysicists from the Russian Academy of Sciences reported a strong glow visible at the summit of the 4,750-metre Klyuchevskoy volcano in the Russian Far East. Lava was seen flowing down one flank of the mountain, and explosions were audible, the experts said. Also known as Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the volcano is located roughly 400 kilometers north of the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It is considered the highest active volcano in Eurasia and forms part of the Pacific Ring of Fire - a seismically volatile zone encircling the Pacific Ocean.
Al Jazeera
7 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Tsunami waves reach US states of Hawaii, California after Russian quake
Tsunami waves have reached California and Hawaii in the United States following a huge earthquake off Russia's far east coast. Tsunami waves breached the US mainland west coast at California's San Francisco at 1:12am (08:12 GMT) Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service for the San Francisco Bay Area. The tsunami is also impacting the state's coastal Arena Cove area and making its way further down the coast, the National Weather Service reported. Further south-west in the Pacific, 1-1.2-metre (3.3-3.9 feet) waves began impacting the US Hawaiian Islands shortly after 8:00pm local time Tuesday (06:00 GMT on Wednesday, July 30), according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC). However, in an update, the centre said it did not expect a major tsunami to strike the state. While there have been no reports of damage in Hawaii, Governor Josh Green said authorities would wait several hours before being able to assess that the situation is safe: 'We are not yet in the clear.' Earlier, the US Tsunami Warning Centers had warned that waves as high as 1 to 3 metres (3.3-9.8ft) were possible in Hawaii, while the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management had advised residents of some coastal areas to evacuate. Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency said all commercial harbours have been closed. Flights in and out of Hawaii's second-largest island of Maui were also cancelled Tuesday night, Green said. The tsunami threat comes as the aftermath of the 8.8 quake in Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka region – one of the largest on record – puts residents on alert in coastal areas of parts of Russia, Latin America and numerous Asian and Pacific island states. Waves up to 4 metres (13ft) high have already struck Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka region, causing some buildings to be submerged. Thousands of citizens in impacted islands have been evacuated. Japan is bracing for damage as well, with evacuation orders issued for people living along coastal areas or rivers. Tsunami waves have also been detected by coastal gauges along Alaska's east Aleutian Islands and the Pacific side of the Alaska Peninsula, according to the US's National Weather Service (NWS) in Anchorage. The impact of the tsunami could last for hours or perhaps more than a day, said Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska 'In this case, because of the Earth basically sending out these huge ripples of water across the ocean, they're going to be moving back and forth for quite a while,' said Snider.
Al Jazeera
7 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Tsunami waves hit US state of Hawaii after Russian quake
Tsunami waves have reached Hawaii in the United States following a massive earthquake off Russia's fare east coast. The tsunami raised sea levels by 3ft (0.9 metres) at the Haleiwa gauge, a monitoring station on Hawaii's north shore of Oahu, reported the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center around 8:30pm local time Tuesday July 29 ( 06:30 GMT on Wednesday July 30). Hawaii's Governor Josh Green said it is too early to tell how big the waves reaching Hawaii will be but warned that even small waves are driven with 'great force'. While there have been no reports of damage, he said authorities would wait up to four hours before being able to assess that the situation is safe: 'We are not yet in the clear', he said. The US National Weather Service also warned 'danger may persist for many more hours as wave activity continues'. 'Please do not put yourself in harm's way,' said Green, adding that Black Hawk helicopters and high-water vehicles were ready to go in case authorities need to rescue people. Earlier, the US Tsunami Warning Centers had warned that waves as high of 1 to 3 metres (3.3-9.8ft) were possible in Hawaii, while the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management residents of some coastal areas to evacuate. Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency said all commercial harbours have been closed. Flights in and out of Hawaii's second-largest island of Maui were also cancelled Tuesday night, Green said. The tsunami threat in Hawaii comes as the aftermath of the 8.8 quake in Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka region – one of the largest on record – puts residents on alert in coastal areas of parts of Russia, Latin America and numerous Asian and Pacific island states. Waves up to 4 metres high (13 feet) have already struck Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka region, causing some buildings to be submerged. Thousands of citizens in impacted islands have been evacuated. Japan is bracing for damage as well, with evacuation orders issued for people living along coastal areas or rivers. Tsunami waves have also been detected by coastal gauges along Alaska's East Aleutian Islands and the Pacific side of the Alaska Peninsula, according to the US's National Weather Service (NWS) in Anchorage. The impact of the tsunami could last for hours or perhaps more than a day, said Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska 'In this case, because of the Earth basically sending out these huge ripples of water across the ocean, they're going to be moving back and forth for quite a while,' said Snider.
