Latest news with #VladimirSolodov
Observer
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Observer
Powerful quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered 4-metre (13-foot) tsunami waves and sparked evacuation orders across the Pacific on Wednesday. The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several people in the remote Russian region, while much of Japan's eastern seaboard, devastated by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011, was ordered to evacuate. In Hawaii, coastal residents were told to get to high ground or the fourth floor or above of buildings, and the U.S. Coast Guard ordered ships out of harbours as the tsunami approached. "Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected," the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said on X. Tsunami waves reaching 10-13 feet struck parts of Kamchatka, partially flooding the port and a fish processing plant in the town of Severo-Kurilsk and sweeping vessels from their moorings, regional officials and Russia's emergency ministry said. "Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram that a kindergarten was damaged, but most buildings withstood the quake. No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was shallow at a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles), and was centred 119 km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000. It revised the magnitude up from 8.0 earlier and reported a series of strong aftershocks up to a magnitude of 6.9. A resident in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky reported that the shaking started slowly but gradually intensified and rumbled for several minutes. "Considering its strength and how long it lasted … I decided to leave the building," said Yaroslav, 25. "The building is very flimsy and light, which might be why it survived. But it felt like the walls could collapse at any moment. The shaking lasted continuously for at least 3 minutes.' Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns across Japan's Pacific coast, and evacuation orders were issued for tens of thousands of people. Workers evacuated the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, where a meltdown following the 2011 tsunami caused a radioactive disaster, operator TEPCO said. Footage on public broadcaster NHK showed scores of people in the northern island of Hokkaido on the roof of a building, sheltering under tents from the beating sun, as fishing boats left harbours to avoid potential damage from the incoming waves. Automaker Nissan Motor suspended operations at certain domestic factories in Japan to ensure employee safety, Kyodo news agency reported. Three tsunami waves had been recorded in Japan, the largest of 60cm (24 inches), officials said. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there were no injuries or damage reported so far, and no irregularities at any nuclear plants. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also warned of "hazardous tsunami waves" spreading across the Pacific. Waves reaching more than 3 metres were possible along some coasts of Russia, the northern Hawaiian islands, and Ecuador, while waves of 1-3 metres were possible in countries including Japan, Hawaii, Chil,e and the Solomon Islands, it said. Smaller waves were possible along coastlines across much of the Pacific, including the U.S. West Coast. "Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii," U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post. "A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!" Several people in Kamchatka sought medical assistance following the quake, Oleg Melnikov, regional health minister, told Russia's TASS state news agency. "Unfortunately, there are some people injured during the seismic event. Some were hurt while running outside, and one patient jumped out of a window. A woman was also injured inside the new airport terminal,' Melnikov said. Kamchatka and Russia's Far East sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Russian Academy of Sciences said it was the strongest quake to hit the region since 1952. "However, due to certain characteristics of the epicentre, the shaking intensity was not as high ... as one might expect from such a magnitude," said Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service, on Telegram. "Aftershocks are currently ongoing ... Their intensity will remain fairly high. However, stronger tremors are not expected shortly. The situation is under control.'
Mint
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Mint
United States' worst tsunami fears pass, evacuations underway in South America
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake, tied as the sixth-strongest ever recorded, struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, triggering Pacific-wide tsunami alerts. The quake's epicenter was just 78 miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where residents felt violent shaking that Governor Vladimir Solodov called the 'strongest in decades'. Within minutes, tsunami waves flooded Severo-Kurilsk port with 19-foot surges, sweeping away storage containers and boats. Dramatically, surgeons in a Kamchatka cancer center continued operating as ceilings shook, later earning state award nominations . The tremor also triggered eruptions at Klyuchevskoy volcano, sending lava down its slopes. While the U.S., Japan and Russia lifted most warnings by Wednesday evening, Chile upgraded to maximum red alert along its 2,600-mile coastline. President Gabriel Boric cautioned: 'Remember the first wave is usually not the strongest' as preventative evacuations expanded. In Ecuador, 1.3-meter waves hit the Galapagos Islands' Baltra coast, keeping emergency protocols active . Peru closed 65 ports and restricted fishing after predicting 7.5-foot waves . Meanwhile, French Polynesia braced for 4-meter surges in the Marquesas Islands, though observed heights stayed near 1.5 meters . Though catastrophic damage was avoided, 125+ aftershocks (including three above magnitude 6.0) continued rattling the Pacific. The U.S. National Weather Service warned of 'stubbornly persistent' currents and fluctuating ocean levels for 24+ hours. Scientists noted the quake occurred on a 'megathrust fault' like Japan's 2011 disaster, with Caroline Orchiston of New Zealand's University of Otago warning: 'Large aftershocks can be damaging for months'. For now, communities from Alaska to Australia remain cautious, proof that when the earth shakes in Kamchatka, the world holds its breath.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Watch the moment massive earthquake rattles homes in Russia
Videos show the moment when a massive earthquake hit Russia on July 29, leaving residents clinging to furniture as buildings convulsed beneath them. A magnitude 8.8 earthquake with a depth of about 12 miles struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:24 p.m. ET, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is the 8th strongest earthquake ever recorded, according to USGS. The quake, which was recorded approximately 78 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, sparked tsunami alerts across the Pacific. Tsunami waves reached Hawaii, California and other states along the West Coast, according to the National Weather Service. Updates on earthquake, tsunami: Evacuation orders lifted in Hawaii hours after tsunami waves reach state's shores Watch the moment a massive earthquake hits Russia Videos shared on social media paint a picture of the moments during and after the earthquake hit Russia. Some residents captured furniture, appliances and kitchenware rattling violently during the quake. Others could be seen clinging to fixtures as the ground shook. Some areas were forced to evacuate and buildings were damaged in the earthquake, but no serious injuries or fatalities were reported, Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram. "Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Gov. Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app, Reuters reported. One surveillance video from a medical facility showed doctors grasping to a patient during a cancer surgery. Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services also shared videos of building damage caused by the event. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video shows the moment a massive earthquake hits Russia
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Tsunami waves reach Hawaii after huge quake rattles Russia
A kindergarten was damaged in Kamchatka but most other buildings withstood the quake. (Russian emergency ministry/AP pic) LOS ANGELES : A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami waves of up to 5m and sparked evacuation orders in Hawaii and across the Pacific today. The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several people in the remote Russian region, while much of Japan's eastern seaboard – devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011 – was ordered to evacuate. In Hawaii, coastal residents were told to get to high ground or the fourth floor or above of buildings, and the US coast guard ordered ships out of harbours as the tsunami approached. 'Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected,' the Honolulu department of emergency management said on X. Shortly after 6am, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said 1m to 1.2m waves were impacting the Hawaiian islands. Hawaii governor Josh Green said so far no waves of consequence hit the islands but all flights in and out of Maui were cancelled. Tsunami waves struck parts of Kamchatka, partially flooding the port and a fish processing plant in the town of Severo-Kurilsk and sweeping vessels from their moorings, regional officials and Russia's emergency ministry said. 'Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,' Kamchatka governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. Russian scientists said it was the most powerful quake to hit the region since 1952. Russia's ministry for emergency services said on Telegram that a kindergarten was damaged but most buildings withstood the quake. No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported. The US geological survey said the earthquake was shallow at a depth of 19.3km, and centred 119km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000. It revised the magnitude up from 8.0 earlier, and reported a series of strong aftershocks up to a magnitude of 6.9. A resident in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky said the shaking rumbled for several minutes. 'I decided to leave the building,' said Yaroslav, 25. 'It felt like the walls could collapse any moment. The shaking lasted continuously for at least three minutes.' Warnings across the Pacific Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns across Japan's Pacific coast today. (AP pic) Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns across Japan's Pacific coast and evacuation orders were issued for tens of thousands of people. Workers evacuated the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, where a meltdown following the 2011 tsunami caused a radioactive disaster, operator Tepco said. Footage on public broadcaster NHK showed scores of people on the northern island of Hokkaido on the roof of a building, sheltering under tents from the beating sun, as fishing boats left harbours to avoid potential damage from the incoming waves. Automaker Nissan Motor suspended operations at certain domestic factories in Japan to ensure employee safety, Kyodo news agency reported. Three tsunami waves had been recorded in Japan, the largest of 1.3m, officials said. Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there were no injuries or damage reported so far, and no irregularities at any nuclear plants. Tsunami waves of between 1m to 3m can be fatal for people who are swept away, said NHK. They can also cause flooding and damage wooden buildings, with people at risk of being killed by large drifting objects, according to the Japan Lifesaving Association. The US tsunami warning system also warned of 'hazardous tsunami waves' spreading across the Pacific. Waves reaching more than 3m were possible along some coasts of Russia, the northern Hawaiian islands and Ecuador, while waves of 1m to 3m were possible in countries including Japan, Hawaii, Chile and the Solomon Islands, it said. Smaller waves were possible along coastlines across much of the Pacific, including the US West Coast. 'Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii,' US president Donald Trump said in a social media post. 'A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States.' 'Ring of fire' Several people in Kamchatka sought medical assistance following the quake, Oleg Melnikov, regional health minister, told Russia's TASS state news agency. In Severo-Kurilsk in the northern Kuril islands, south of Kamchatka, tsunami waves exceeded 3m, with the largest up to 5m, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Alexander Ovsyannikov, the town's mayor, said four tsunami waves had passed. He urged residents to assess damage to their homes and not to use gas stove heating until inspections had been carried out, in order to avoid a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Power to the Sakhalin region had been cut off due to damage to the electricity grid, RIA said, citing the regional governor. Kamchatka and Russia's Far East sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Russian Academy of Sciences said it was the strongest quake to hit the region since 1952. 'However, due to certain characteristics of the epicentre, the shaking intensity was not as high… as one might expect from such a magnitude,' said Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka branch of the geophysical service, on Telegram. 'Aftershocks are currently ongoing… Their intensity will remain fairly high. However, stronger tremors are not expected in the near future. The situation is under control.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Watch the moment massive earthquake rattles homes in Russia
Videos show the moment when a massive earthquake hit Russia on July 29, leaving residents clinging to furniture as buildings convulsed beneath them. A magnitude 8.8 earthquake with a depth of about 12 miles struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:24 p.m. ET, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is the 8th strongest earthquake ever recorded, according to USGS. The quake, which was recorded approximately 78 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, sparked tsunami alerts across the Pacific. Tsunami waves reached Hawaii, California and other states along the West Coast, according to the National Weather Service. Updates on earthquake, tsunami: Evacuation orders lifted in Hawaii hours after tsunami waves reach state's shores Watch the moment a massive earthquake hits Russia Videos shared on social media paint a picture of the moments during and after the earthquake hit Russia. Some residents captured furniture, appliances and kitchenware rattling violently during the quake. Others could be seen clinging to fixtures as the ground shook. Some areas were forced to evacuate and buildings were damaged in the earthquake, but no serious injuries or fatalities were reported, Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram. "Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Gov. Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app, Reuters reported. One surveillance video from a medical facility showed doctors grasping to a patient during a cancer surgery. Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services also shared videos of building damage caused by the event. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video shows the moment a massive earthquake hits Russia
