Latest news with #Alaskan
Scoop
a day ago
- Climate
- Scoop
Magnitude 8.8 Quake East Of Russia
An estimated magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's eastern coast has resulted in tsunami warnings across much of the Pacific. New Zealand's coasts may experience 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges' and NEMA has advised staying off beaches and shore areas. The Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with a population of 180,000 people, is close to the earthquake epicentre. The SMC asked experts to comment. 'Today's earthquake that occurred just off the Kamchatka peninsula is a large magnitude event (M8.8), and occurred on a subduction zone where the Pacific Plate is diving down under the Okhotsk Plate – and because it was offshore, it generated a tsunami. 'According to the USGS, the area has a relatively small population, so damage or injuries to local people and property isn't expected to be too large. The US Pacific Northwest and Alaskan coasts are under a Tsunami Advisory, with waves of less than 1 ft expected in some northern areas, with Crescent City (a promontory on the Oregon Coast) having the largest predicted waves of up to 4.8 ft (USGS). 'At last count, there have already been 10 aftershocks above magnitude 5, the largest at M6.9. This demonstrates that large magnitude earthquakes generate aftershock sequences that start immediately, and some of these can be damaging in their own right. From the perspective of local people, their experience of this earthquake is going to be compounded in the coming weeks, months and years by on-going aftershock activity, which can have a significant psycho-social affect. 'Aotearoa lies just over 9,600 km from the epicentre, with nothing but the Pacific Ocean between us. New Zealand is no stranger to the effects of distant tsunami events, for example our experience of the 1960 M9.6 Chilean earthquake. Waves of up to 5.5 m in some coastal locations took 10-12 hours to cross the Pacific Ocean to reach our shores. The NEMA mobile phone alert that came out this afternoon urged people not to go tsunami sight-seeing at the coast. Let's take heed of this warning, and show that we have learnt something about tsunami risk by keeping clear of any waves or strong currents on our beaches, inlets and other coastal locations.' No conflicts of interest. Dr Jennifer Eccles, Senior Lecturer, School of Environment, University of Auckland, comments: 'The magnitude 8.8 earthquake that has struck in far Eastern Russia off the low population density Kamchatka Peninsula is sourced from the Kuril-Kamchatka arc subduction system, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate (yes, Eastern Russia is on the North American tectonic plate). 'This has resulted in very strong shaking locally and also caused the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre to issue potential threat warning to eastern Russia, Western North America and Japan with nearby coastlines feeling any impact first. Tsunami waves travel at speeds comparable to commercial aircraft will take some time to cross the Pacific Ocean with any impacts to New Zealand waters expected from midnight. By that time observations from coastlines impacted and marine DART (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) Buoys will allow a very good estimate of any potential coastal threat. Please see NEMA (The National Emergency Management Agency) for current advisories.' Conflict of interest statement: No conflicts declared. Dr Lauren Vinnell, Senior Lecturer of Emergency Management, Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Massey University, comments: 'Tsunami are a serious hazard, and they don't have to be very big to pose a threat. Anyone on the water or near the shore should take this warning seriously, as the expected currents and surges could be big enough to cause damage, injury, and threat to life. It is always better to be safe than sorry – if you act now to keep yourself safe and end up being fine, you can consider it as good practice for next time. 'For most of us, today's event can serve as a gentle reminder that we do need to think about tsunami and know how to respond. Sometimes, like today, there will be time to give warnings, but this won't always be the case if the tsunami starts closer to our shores. Remember, long or strong get gone – drop, cover, and hold during the shaking, and then if the shaking was longer than a minute or strong enough that it would be hard to stand, evacuate immediately uphill or inland. If in doubt, it is always best to evacuate. If today's event has you nervous, the best thing you can do is check your tsunami hazard zones, make sure you'd be ready to leave home quickly, and plan where you would evacuate to.' No conflicts of interest. Professor John Townend, earthquake scientist and Professor of Geophysics at Victoria University of Wellington, comments: 'Today's magnitude 8.8 earthquake near Kamchatka is the largest earthquake to have occurred worldwide since the magnitude ~9.1 Tohoku earthquake in 2011. 'Today's earthquake occurred in the subduction zone beneath the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the Pacific plate is moving WNW at approximately 75 mm/yr and being forced beneath the the Okhotsk plate that forms eastern Siberia and the Kamchatka Peninsula and in some studies is considered part of the North American plate. 'Given the earthquake's size and location, and preliminary seismological observations, it is likely to have involved slip of 10+ m over an area of ~150 x 400 km, although further analysis over the next 12-24 hours will be required to confirm this. Today's earthquake was preceded on 20 July by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, now recognised as a foreshock. 'The depth, size, and faulting characteristics of today's earthquake combined to generate a tsunami that has already affected nearby coastlines and Japan and will have ongoing effects across the Pacific in coming hours. Today's earthquake released approximately 30x more energy than the 2016 magnitude 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake and approximately 3x less energy than the magnitude 9.1 Tohoku earthquake.' No conflicts of interest. Our colleagues at the UK Science Media Centre have also gathered comments on the earthquake and tsunami, climate change induced sea levels rises and potential impact on tsunami, and reports that the Fukushima nuclear site was evacuated due to the tsunami.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Royal Caribbean passenger shares tense moments during Alaska tsunami alert
Erin Dietrich, who was recently onboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, has opened up about her experience on the cruise when the tsunami warning was issued near Alaska. Although there was no damage to the ship, the warning added an unexpected wave of tension to what was meant to be a peaceful journey along the Alaskan coast. Tsunami warnings were issued after a massive 8.8 earthquake on the east coast of Russia.(Getty Images via AFP) 'Everyone back home was texting and messaging about the tsunami warning, so I was totally freaked out but trying to play it cool for the kids,' she told People magazine. Erin Dietrich recalls tense moments Erin Dietrich and her husband Scott were with their four kids, preparing for dinner aboard the Quantum of the Seas, when a tsunami warning sent waves of concern across the ship. The alert, issued after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's coast on July 29, affected areas from the US West Coast to Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Though the Dietrichs are used to hurricanes back home in Myrtle Beach, being at sea during such an alert was 'a totally different experience', especially while en route to Alaska. 'My 16-year-old and 13-year-old obviously knew what was going on, so they were panicking. My 8-year-old was scared, but we just tried to keep them busy and not really talk about it," she expressed. While trying to keep her kids calm, Erin recounted how she took them to the ship's kids club, only to find other parents equally shaken. 'People were just kind of frantic in panic mode,' she added. Also Read: Panic amid Hawaii tourists as cruise ships rush to leave after 8.8 quake: 'We are in the middle of tsunami' Tsunami scare at sea As per People, at 8.52 PM (local time) nearly four hours after news of the tsunami warning broke, Erin began recording the cruise captain's first announcement. 'We are currently monitoring the tsunami advisories… Your well being and safety remain our top priority,' he assured passengers. While the night was windy and the pools and decks remained closed, operations stayed largely normal. 'But we were out at sea, which supposedly, people say is one of the safest places to be out on a ship,' Dietrich said. By July 30, the family was en route to Sitka. A tsunami advisory still remained for Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Also Read: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's Montecito home under tsunami threat as 'advisory' issued On July 30, the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska urged boat operators to head at least 180 feet deep into the sea. The advisory warned against "shallow water, harbors, marinas" due to the risk of strong currents and hidden or floating debris that could be dangerous. FAQs Q1. What happened on the Royal Caribbean cruise near Alaska? A tsunami warning was issued while the ship was at sea, leading to concern among passengers. Q2. Was anyone hurt during the tsunami alert? No injuries were reported. Q3. What did the cruise captain say? The captain assured everyone that their safety was a priority and that the situation was being closely monitored.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
What are the strongest earthquakes ever? See where July 29 quake ranks on top 10
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29 is now among the ten largest ever recorded on the planet. With a depth of about 12 miles, the shallow quake was recorded at 7:24 p.m. ET approximately 78 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Kamchatka and Russia's Far East sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the geologically active region known for intense earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In a video posted to the Telegram messaging app, Kamchatka Gov. Vladimir Solodov said preliminary information indicates there were no injuries but added that a kindergarten was damaged, according to Reuters. "Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said, per Reuters. A tsunami of up to 13 feet generated by the quake prompted evacuations and damaged buildings in the transcontinental country. Following the record breaking quake, multiple aftershocks were recorded ranging between a magnitude of 5.2 to 6.9, the USGS reported. Coasts of Russia, Japan and Hawaii were all subject to warnings of "hazardous tsunami waves" issued by the U.S. Tsunami Warning System. Tsunami alerts were also issued for the entire U.S. West Coast with officials issuing evacuation warnings in Hawaii, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Here's how the major earthquake ranks to the largest ever recorded dating as far back to 1906. How does the 2025 Russia earthquake compare? The magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, 2025 is now the 8th strongest ever recorded, tied with 1965 quake that struck near Rat Islands, a group of Alaskan islands within the Aleutian Island. Live alerts: Tsunami alerts issued for Hawaii, West Coast after magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia 11. Indian Ocean quake off coast of Sumatra: April 11, 2012 An 8.6 quake off the coast of Sumatra on April 11, 2012, was one of two quakes in the Indian Ocean that struck near Indonesia, felt across the islands of Sumatra and Java, and widely felt in parts of South and Southeast Asia The first quake registered at a magnitude of 8.6 at about 3:38 p.m. local time. It killed two people and at least eight died from heart attacks attributed to the quake. A dozen more were injured in the Indonesian province Aceh. Just over two hours later, another quake of 8.2 magnitude was felt in the same region and even triggered a local tsunami. 10. Assam-Tibet earthquake: Aug. 15, 1950 An Aug. 15, 1950, earthquake caused destruction in India and Tibet with a magnitude of 8.6, recalculated from an earlier designation of 8.7. More than 1,500 people were killed, including hundreds who died days after the quake when a dam broke. The quake triggered landslides that wiped out whole villages. 9. Rat Islands earthquake: Feb. 4, 1965 An 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Rat Islands, a group of Alaskan islands within the Aleutian Islands, on Feb. 4, 1965, also triggering a tsunami. Damage was reported to structures from the impact of the earthquake and subsequent flooding, but no deaths were reported. 8. Kamchatka Peninsula earthquake: July 29, 2025 On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula about 78 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Kamchatka Gov. Vladimir Solodov said preliminary information indicates there were no injuries but that a kindergarten was damaged, according to Reuters. The quake generated a tsunami of up to 13 feet in Russia and prompted tsunami alerts in Japan, Hawaii and the entire U.S. West Coast. 7. Ecuador-Colombia quake: Jan. 31, 1906 Near the coast of Ecuador on Jan. 31, 1906, an 8.8 quake caused a tsunami that killed between 500 and 1,500 people in Ecuador and Colombia. Its magnitude has been recalculated after being originally estimated at 8.2. The tsunami reached Hilo, Hawaii, over 5,000 miles away 12.5 hours later. 6. Chilean earthquake: Feb. 27, 2010 More than 500 people were killed and over two dozen were declared missing, another 12,000 were injured and hundreds of thousands of structures were damaged or destroyed in an 8.8 earthquake and tsunami near Quirihue, Chile on Feb. 27, 2010. The quake was felt across much of South America. More than 800,000 people were displaced from their homes. The economic loss was estimated at $30 billion. The tsunami even reached San Diego, California, where it damaged boats docked there. 5. Quake near Kamchatka, Russia: Nov. 4, 1952 A 9.0 quake off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, triggered a tsunami that caused serious damage and killed at least 4,000 people. The tsunami made its way through the Pacific Ocean, causing up to $1 million of damage in Hawaii, where the waves destroyed boats and piers and killed six cows. 4. Japan earthquake and tsunami: March 11, 2011 The Great Tohoku Earthquake struck Japan on March 11, 2011, with a magnitude of 9.1 that also triggered a catastrophic tsunami that hit within 30 minutes of the quake. The tsunami disabled three nuclear reactors, causing a nuclear disaster. Hundreds of fires also broke out as a result. More than 18,000 people died, including thousands never found but presumed dead, and over 6,000 were injured. More than 100,000 homes were totally destroyed and almost a million more were damaged, mostly due to the tsunami. Damage was recorded from the tsunami around the world, including in Hawaii, California, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands. 3. Sumatra-Andaman Islands earthquake: Dec. 26, 2004 A 9.1-magnitude earthquake and tsunami off the west coast of northern Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004, killed more than 283,000 people and displaced over 1 million more across 10 countries in Asia and Africa. "The tsunami caused more casualties than any other in recorded history and was recorded nearly world-wide on tide gauges in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans," the U.S. Geological Survey site said. 2. Great Alaska Earthquake: March 28, 1964 Also known as the Good Friday Earthquake, a 9.2 quake in southern Alaska and tsunami killed 131 people and caused over $2 billion in damage across the cities of Anchorage, Chitina, Glennallen, Homer, Hope and many others in Alaska. A J.C. Penney building sustained heavy damage and an apartment building collapsed in Anchorage, while the school system was devastated. 1. Valdivian Earthquake: May 22, 1960 The Valdivian Earthquake, or the Great Chilean Earthquake, is the largest on record. It measured in at a magnitude of 9.5. off the coast of Chile near Valdivia and Puerto Montt area. At least 1,655 people were killed and 3,000 were injured in southern Chile; 61 died in Hawaii; 138 in Japan and 32 in the Philippines. The widespread damage to homes left about 2 million people homeless in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami. Damage from the tsunami was recorded in Hawaii, Japan and the West Coast of the U.S. Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russian quake is among the top 10 in history: See where it ranks Solve the daily Crossword
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Hawaii to California: How often have tsunamis hit the US and how bad do they get
Waves have begun to hit California shores in the US, after tsunami alerts were issued for nations across the Pacific when a strong 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's far eastern coast on Wednesday morning. The US National Weather Service has warned people from venturing along the coast looking for tsunami waves. 'This will NOT be a single wave. Do NOT try to go to the coast to take photos,' the NWS San Francisco Bay Area office posted on X. In 1946, Hawaii, an archipelago of islands in the US was hit by a massive tsunami originating in the Pacific Ocean. An earthquake thousands of kilometres away, sent 55-foot waves barreling toward the islands. By the time they crashed into Hilo, 159 people were dead, and much of the town's downtown lay in ruins. It was a brutal reminder of a truth the United States has confronted since at least 1737: tsunamis, though rare, are among the most relentless forces of nature. Over nearly three centuries, 77 have struck American shores, with an average of two destructive ones every decade These waves are overwhelmingly a Pacific problem. The geology of the region, where tectonic plates clash against each other, makes southern Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast prime targets. Alaska sits on one of the planet's most volatile fault lines, a tectonic powder keg. Hawaii, caught in the crosshairs of both local quakes and far-off 'tele-tsunamis' from across the Pacific Rim, has suffered more deaths from tsunamis than from all other natural disasters combined, according to the Pacific Disaster Center. Most tsunamis start with an undersea earthquake but underwater landslides can also churn up devastating waves, as can volcanic eruptions. In 1883, Alaska's Augustine Volcano sent a surge of water outward after erupting. Far earlier, some 1,00,000 years ago, a massive volcanic landslide in Hawaii triggered one of the largest tsunamis ever to hit the islands. Alaska's history is littered with such extremes. In 1958, an earthquake in Lituya Bay sent 90 million tons of rock crashing into the water, creating a wave that surged 1,700 feet high becoming the tallest tsunami ever recorded. As the location was relatively remote, few lives were lost. However, scientists argue that rising temperatures could cause mighty Alaskan glaciers to melt, sparking the potential for even more tsunamis in the future. The continental US hasn't escaped the toll. In 1964, a 9.2-magnitude earthquake—the strongest ever recorded in North America—ruptured the Gulf of Alaska, sending waves all the was to California, where 11 people died in Crescent city. Even modest waves, under 10 feet, can generate currents strong enough to destroy ports. In the worst cases, waves topping 100 feet can erase entire coastal communities. Local tsunamis, triggered by nearby quakes or landslides, can hit within minutes, leaving little time for warnings to reach those in harm's way. Despite being rare, tsunamis represent one of the most powerful and unpredictable natural forces affecting the United States.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
When was the last time a tsunami hit US as 8.7-magnitude earthquake triggers warnings?
Hawaii residents have been evacuated from homes in coastal areas due to fears of a tsunami, while there is also concern for locations such as San Francisco in the US We often equate tsunamis with southeast Asia and countries across the Indian Ocean. But to hear that significant waves are approaching parts of the iconic US west coast may be surprising, albeit equally as alarming. On Wednesday morning, July 30, a tsunami struck the coastal regions of Russia and Japan following an earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, prompting alerts across America's west coast. Two million individuals have been evacuated throughout Japan, with warnings in place for other parts of the country's east coast and the entire US west coast after the quake - the strongest recorded globally since 2011. The National Tsunami Warning Centre, based in Alaska, issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Alaska Aleutian Islands and a watch for sections of the west coast, including California, Oregon and Washington, as well as Hawaii. Well, it wasn't long ago that huge waves charged towards the US coastline. On July 29, 2021, a 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit southeast Perryville, Alaska, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Striking the south of the Alaska Peninsula at 06:15am local time, the earthquake sparked a "small tsunami" but one that was still the largest in the US since the February 1965 earthquake in a similar spot. The year before, the 1964 Alaska earthquake, also known as the Great Alaska earthquake, was 9.2 in magnitude. The ensuing tsunami caused 139 deaths and $400 million in property loss. The 2021 earthquake was very close to two other major Alaska earthquake sites - approximately 62 km from the July 2020 7.8-magnitutde earthquake and 145 km from the October 2020 7.6-magnitude earthquake. The tsunami was seen at Alaskan, Hawaiian, and US West Coast tide gauge stations. Before that, a huge line of severe thunderstorms raced through parts of the northeast on May 15, 2018, as per the US Tsunami Warning System. The storm system stretched 470 miles from western Pennsylvania to southern New England to Maryland and persisted over approximately eight hours, beginning around midday and continuing through early evening. The powerful storm caused extensive wind damage, hail, and also produced nine tornadoes in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. As the storm moved across Connecticut and Long Island, waves were observed locally on the tide gauges in Long Island Sound. The storm also generated a small meteotsunami off the Long Island/New Jersey coastline, a large wave, similar to a tsunami, but caused by weather disturbances rather than seismic activity like earthquakes. The storm then moved south across Maryland and Southern New Jersey with waves spotted on the tide gauges in Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the US. Alaska may be baring the brunt of the elements again, but Hawaii will not be immune to some impact, either. On Wednesday, waves less than 30 centimetres above tide levels were seen in the Alaskan communities of Amchitka and Adak, according to Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator at the National Tsunami Warning Centre in Alaska. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre also warned that surges of one to three metres above normal tide levels could affect certain coastal regions of Hawaii, Chile, Japan and the Solomon Islands. "Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property," the warning stated.
