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Tsunami warnings after quake strikes off Russia's east coast

Tsunami warnings after quake strikes off Russia's east coast

Times of Oman30-07-2025
A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia's Far East on Wednesday morning, triggering tsunami warnings in Japan and the US island of Hawaii.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the magnitude-8.8 tremor struck at a shallow depth of 19.3 km (12 miles).
Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning, with waves of up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) possible in areas along Japan's east and northeast coast.
"A tsunami advisory has been issued as of 08:37 (2337 GMT) on July 30," the JMA said on X, adding that "tsunamis will strike repeatedly. Do not enter the sea or approach the coast until the warning is lifted."
"Tsunami waves are approaching the coasts. Evacuate as quickly as possible," the JMA said in a separate update.
Kamchatka's regional minister for emergency situations, Sergei Lebedev, warned that a tsunami of between 3-4 meters was recorded in parts of Kamchatka, as he urged residents to move away from the peninsula's shoreline.
First tsunami waves reach Russian, Japanese shores
Tsunami waves have reached coastal areas in Russia's Kuril Islands as well as Japan's northernmost large island of Hokkaido, authorities said.
Local governor Valery Limarenko said the first tsunami wave had struck the coast of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on the Pacific archipelago.
Residents have been urged to remain on high ground until the threat of repeat waves has passed.
The JMA, meanwhile, said a first wave of about 30 centimeters (1 foot) had reached the town of Nemuro, on Hokkaido's east coast.
Warnings issued across the Pacific
A tsunami warning has also been issued for the US state of Hawaii. Authorities in Honolulu have called for people to evacuate from coastal areas as it said "destructive" waves were expected.
Authorities in California issued a tsunami watch for sections of the central coastline, including San Francisco. A lower-level tsunami advisory is in effect for the entire US Pacific coast.
The massive quake also triggered warnings of waves possibly hitting the coast of Ecuador and Chile along South America's west coast, according to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
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Japan lifts tsunami advisory after Russia quake
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TOKYO: Japan's weather office on Thursday lifted a tsunami advisory imposed a day earlier after Russia's Far East was rocked by one of the strongest earthquakes on record. "There is currently no coastal area for which tsunami warnings or advisories are in force," the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on its website. Millions of people were put on high alert in countries around the Pacific Ocean after the 8.8-magnitude quake off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula on Wednesday. The worst damage was seen in Russia, where a tsunami crashed through the port of Severo-Kurilsk and submerged the local fishing plant, officials said. Russian state television footage showed buildings and debris swept into the sea. The initial quake caused limited damage and only light injuries. Fears of a repeat of the December 2004 tsunami that killed 220,000 people in 11 nations -- the legacy of which was to improve early warning systems -- were not realised. In Japan, where a massive earthquake and tsunami killed 15,000 people in 2011, almost two million people were ordered to higher ground, but the biggest wave was 4.3 feet. - AFP

Powerful quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami
Powerful quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami

Observer

time30-07-2025

  • 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.'

Tsunami warnings after quake strikes off Russia's east coast
Tsunami warnings after quake strikes off Russia's east coast

Times of Oman

time30-07-2025

  • Times of Oman

Tsunami warnings after quake strikes off Russia's east coast

A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia's Far East on Wednesday morning, triggering tsunami warnings in Japan and the US island of Hawaii. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the magnitude-8.8 tremor struck at a shallow depth of 19.3 km (12 miles). Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning, with waves of up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) possible in areas along Japan's east and northeast coast. "A tsunami advisory has been issued as of 08:37 (2337 GMT) on July 30," the JMA said on X, adding that "tsunamis will strike repeatedly. Do not enter the sea or approach the coast until the warning is lifted." "Tsunami waves are approaching the coasts. Evacuate as quickly as possible," the JMA said in a separate update. Kamchatka's regional minister for emergency situations, Sergei Lebedev, warned that a tsunami of between 3-4 meters was recorded in parts of Kamchatka, as he urged residents to move away from the peninsula's shoreline. First tsunami waves reach Russian, Japanese shores Tsunami waves have reached coastal areas in Russia's Kuril Islands as well as Japan's northernmost large island of Hokkaido, authorities said. Local governor Valery Limarenko said the first tsunami wave had struck the coast of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on the Pacific archipelago. Residents have been urged to remain on high ground until the threat of repeat waves has passed. The JMA, meanwhile, said a first wave of about 30 centimeters (1 foot) had reached the town of Nemuro, on Hokkaido's east coast. Warnings issued across the Pacific A tsunami warning has also been issued for the US state of Hawaii. Authorities in Honolulu have called for people to evacuate from coastal areas as it said "destructive" waves were expected. Authorities in California issued a tsunami watch for sections of the central coastline, including San Francisco. A lower-level tsunami advisory is in effect for the entire US Pacific coast. The massive quake also triggered warnings of waves possibly hitting the coast of Ecuador and Chile along South America's west coast, according to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

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