Latest news with #EmergencyMinistry
Euronews
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Euronews
Watch the video: Several injured in Russia after massive earthquake
One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off the coast of Russia on Wednesday, injuring several people, according to local authorities. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake's epicentre was around 119 kilometres from the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000, on the Kamchatka peninsula. Tsunami waves reached as high as 10-15 metres in some sections of the Kamchatka coast, according to Russia's Oceanography Institute. Scientists expect aftershocks at magnitudes of up to 7.5, according to the local branch of the Russian Emergency Ministry. It said more tsunamis are possible near the regional capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Head of the regional health department Oleg Melnikov said several people were hurt as they left buildings and a hospital patient was injured. A local kindergarten was also reportedly damaged. All injured were in stable condition, Melnikov said. The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of several on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, started erupting after the earthquake, according to local media. Authorities in the Kuril Islands in Russia's Far East introduced a state of emergency following the tsunami. The islands are situated in between Kamchatka and Japan. They reported flooding in the fishing port of Severo-Kurilsk, the main city on the islands, and downed electricity. The port's mayor said no significant damage was recorded, but that a tsunami alert remains in place. Tsunami waves were sent to Japan, Hawaii and other places across the Pacific after the earthquake in Russia. While no substantial damage has been reported so far, authorities are warning people to stay away from the shorelines.
News18
a day ago
- Climate
- News18
Russian authorities on Kamchatka peninsula, Kuril islands cancel tsunami warning
Tokyo, Jul 30 (AP) Russian authorities on the Kamchatka peninsula and the Kuril islands have cancelled a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake struck nearby Wednesday. They say some risk remains. The regional branch of Russia's Emergency Ministry on Kamchatka warned that scientists expect aftershocks at magnitudes of up to 7.5. It said that more tsunamis are possible in the Avacha Bay, where the regional capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located. (AP) GRS GRS Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Tsunami waves hit Hawaii, Japan: What we know so far
Tsunami warnings and advisories have been issued for several countries with Pacific coastlines, including Japan, after a massive earthquake off Russia's Far East coast. Waves generated by the powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Kamchatka Peninsula struck parts of Russia, Japan and Hawaii on Wednesday. The earthquake and the subsequent tsunami warning have triggered evacuations across the Pacific, with Japan asking nearly two million people to evacuate. Tsunami warnings were also issued for Taiwan, the Philippines and Alaska's Aleutian Islands, with advisories issued for much of the US West Coast. So, how strong was the quake and how many countries have been hit by tsunami waves? Which countries in the Pacific were hit by tsunami waves? What's the latest update? 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. A tsunami height of 3-4 metres (10 to 13 feet) was recorded in Kamchatka. The Russian Pacific town of Severo-Kurilsk was hit by waves at least 3 metres (9.8ft) high, and the most powerful was as big as 5 metres (16.4ft), Russia's Ria Novosti news agency reported, citing emergency services. The seaport town in the Sakhalin region was flooded, forcing the evacuation of its 2,000 residents, Russia's Ministry of Emergencies and Disaster Relief said. 'A state of emergency is in effect in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy …,' Mayor Yevgeny Belyaev said in a social media post. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, home to some 165,000 people, is the administrative centre of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Japan, which was affected by a devastating 2011 tsunami, has been hit by four to five rounds of waves. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned tsunami waves showed no signs of receding. The height of waves continues to grow, from 20cm (0.6ft) earlier today to 1.3 metres (4.2ft) in the northeast of the country, it said. 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 incoming waves. Shortly after 07:30 GMT, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves of up to 1.7 metres (5.5ft) were affecting the Hawaiian islands. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said data from Midway Atoll, between Japan and Hawaii, measured waves from peak to trough of 6 feet (1.8 metres). Governor Green had earlier said all flights in and out of Maui had been cancelled. The first tsunami waves were detected in Monterey, California at 12:48am local time (05:48 GMT), according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Elsewhere, the US Tsunami Warning Centres said waves as high as 3 metres (9.8ft) could hit Ecuador, while waves of 1 to 3 metres (3.3-9.8ft) were possible in Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Japan and some Pacific islands. How do quakes generate tsunami waves? Chris Elders, a structural geology expert at Curtin University in Australia, told Al Jazeera that Wednesday's earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an 'area of significant volcanic activity and also earthquake activity'. 'In this particular part of the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Ocean is moving down underneath the eastern side of Russia … and it's that movement of the tectonic plates that produces these very large earthquakes,' Elders said. 'The earthquake causes the seabed to lift up a little bit, and that displaces the water sideways, producing the tsunami wave, and it'll spread away from the epicentre,' he said. Where have tsunami alerts/advisories been issued? Tsunami warnings or advisories have been issued for: Russia Australia Japan Taiwan The Philippines China Hawaii Guam Tonga California Alaska Oregon Washington British Columbia Mexico Peru Ecuador The difference between 'warnings' and 'advisories' lies mainly in the expected severity of the tsunami. Warning: a tsunami with the potential to cause widespread flooding, damage and danger to life. These may require evacuation orders and other demanding safety checks. Advisory: a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or dangerous waves is expected, but not large enough to cause significant damage. Some safety checks are advised. Helen Janiszewski, assistant professor in geophysics and tectonics division at the University of Hawaii, told BBC News that, 'a good rule of thumb for tsunami waves is that they travel at about the speed of a jet plane'. She said that the time it takes to travel by plane from one place to another is roughly how long it takes for waves to travel from the quake epicentre to hit elsewhere. Different areas under tsunami warnings and advisories will be taking these time frames into account. Which countries in the region are not affected? New Zealand's disaster management agency warned that the country's coastal areas could expect 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore'. In a national advisory alert, Civil Defence New Zealand said there was no immediate need to evacuate but said citizens should stay away from beaches and shore areas. And while Australia has been added to the advisory list by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the country's Bureau of Meteorology said there was no threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories as a result of the earthquake. What to do under a tsunami warning? In a tsunami warning, authorities agree that it is important to act immediately. While guidance varies by country and according to the severity of the incident, it is generally good practice to move inland or to higher ground. It is also important to avoid beaches, harbours and coastal roads. If people find themselves on a boat, it's crucial to follow official maritime guidance, as it can sometimes be safer to stay at sea. Listening to local authorities via radio, phone alerts or sirens is key. Low-lying areas should be avoided until officials declare them safe; multiple waves can occur hours apart. People who feel a strong earthquake and are near the coast should evacuate immediately. If possible, it's important to help others, especially the elderly, children and people with disabilities. Guidance states to stay away from rivers and estuaries, as tsunamis can travel upstream. Finally, it's good to remain calm and to prioritise safety over material possessions. When and where did the quake strike? The earthquake, which struck at 8:25am Japan time (11:25 GMT), was the strongest in the Russian region since 1952, according to the Russian Academy of Sciences, and struck at a depth of 19.3km (12 miles). The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several people in the remote Russian region. At a magnitude of 8.8, it is believed to be the sixth strongest earthquake in history. A 2010 earthquake in Chile, the last quake recorded at 8.8, killed 523 people and destroyed more than 370,000 homes. The quake was centred 119 km (74 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. A resident in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky told Reuters news agency that the earthquake 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,' he was quoted as saying.
The Independent
a day ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Drone footage shows tsunami waves flood Russian coastal town after huge earthquake
Drone footage shows tsunami waves flooding the Russian coastal town of Severo-Kurilsk after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the country's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday (July 30). Regional officials and Russia 's emergency ministry said tsunami waves struck parts of Kamchatka, partially flooding the port and a fish processing plant in Severo-Kurilsk and sweeping vessels from their moorings. The 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.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Health
- Al Arabiya
Massive Russia earthquake a ‘truly major event,' experts warn of powerful aftershocks
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday represents 'a truly huge event' that places the tremor among the top 10 largest earthquakes ever recorded, scientists said, as tsunami warnings stretched across the Pacific Ocean and authorities braced for powerful aftershocks. The shallow earthquake, centered 119 kilometers east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, generated tsunamis up to four meters high and prompted evacuations from Japan to Hawaii. 'A magnitude 8.8 earthquake is a truly huge event,' said Judith Hubbard, a Harvard graduate and earthquake scientist who has been tracking seismic activity in the region. 'That places this earthquake firmly within the top 10 largest earthquakes ever recorded.' The Kamchatka subduction zone has now produced two of the world's top-ten largest earthquakes, Hubbard said, with the other being a magnitude 9.0 in 1952. Widespread damage and injuries Several people were injured in the remote Russian region, with local health officials reporting patients hurt while fleeing buildings and one person who jumped from a window during the intense shaking. '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,' regional health minister Oleg Melnikov told Russia's TASS news agency. 'All patients are currently in satisfactory condition, and no serious injuries have been reported so far.' The US Geological Survey's PAGER system estimates that Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with a population of 187,000, experienced intensity VIII shaking classified as 'severe.' The massive seafloor displacement generated a transoceanic tsunami that was recorded by deep-ocean monitoring buoys and prompted urgent evacuations across the Pacific Rim. 'A tsunami with a height of 3–4 meters was recorded in parts of Kamchatka,' said Sergei Lebedev, the region's emergency situations minister, urging residents to move away from shorelines. Russia's Emergency Ministry reported that the port in Severo-Kurilsk and a fish processing plant were partially flooded, with the population evacuated to safety. Japan upgraded its tsunami warning, expecting waves up to 3 meters to reach large coastal areas. Authorities ordered evacuations along Japan's eastern seaboard, still scarred by the devastating 2011 tsunami. Workers were evacuated from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant as a precaution. The US Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for 'hazardous tsunami waves,' estimating maximum heights of more than 3 meters along parts of Russia's coastline and 1-3 meters for Japan, Hawaii, Chile, and the Solomon Islands. Aftershocks likely Scientists warned that the massive earthquake would likely trigger numerous powerful aftershocks, with some potentially exceeding magnitude 7. 'Many aftershocks are expected, including some that may exceed magnitude 7,' Hubbard said. 'There is also the potential that another large earthquake could be triggered on a nearby section of the megathrust fault.' The largest aftershock recorded so far measured magnitude 6.9, occurring about 45 minutes after the main event. The aftershock zone currently stretches more than 600 kilometers along the subduction zone. Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service, said on Telegram that 'aftershocks are currently ongoing' and 'their intensity will remain fairly high,' though he added that stronger tremors were not expected in the immediate future. The earthquake occurred along a megathrust fault where tectonic plates converge, typical of the world's largest seismic events. In such great earthquakes, scientists expect 'several meters, locally up to tens of meters, of slip on a stretch of fault hundreds of kilometers long,' Hubbard explained. 'The rupture itself might take several minutes, producing intense shaking with long duration,' she said, noting that areas along the coast and inland experienced very strong to severe shaking, with secondary effects like landslides and liquefaction likely widespread. The Russian Academy of Sciences confirmed this was the strongest earthquake to hit the region since 1952. Great earthquakes typically become subjects of intense scientific study, Hubbard said, combining 'widespread human impacts with unusually large geological signals.' 'They are examples of the most critical seismological questions: why does a specific rupture, born as a tiny crack like millions of others, grow to such immense size?' she said. 'And why is this extravagant growth so (fortunately) unusual?' Researchers expect numerous studies to emerge examining everything from the rupture process and tsunami effects to impacts on the region's many active volcanoes and global seismological phenomena. The Kamchatka Peninsula sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. As communities across the Pacific assess damage and prepare for continued aftershocks, scientists emphasized the importance of following evacuation orders. 'Do not second-guess a tsunami warning: evacuate to higher ground and wait for the all-clear,' Hubbard urged.
