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The South African
7 hours ago
- Climate
- The South African
Earthquake off Russian coast sparks tsunami warnings across Pacific
An 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast of Russia set off multiple tsunamis in the northern Pacific early on Wednesday, with authorities from Hawaii to New Zealand issuing warnings. The quake was recorded as the world's strongest since the shock that caused meltdowns at a Japan nuclear power plant in 2011. A Japanese television displays tsunami warning on July 30, 2025. © FRANCE 24 One of the world's strongest earthquakes struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that set off a tsunami in the northern Pacific region and prompted warnings for Alaska, Hawaii and other coasts south toward New Zealand. Tsunami warning sirens blared on Tuesday in Honolulu and people moved to higher ground. The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami measuring 40 centimetres (1.3 feet) was detected in Tokachi, on the southern coast of Hokkaido, the northernmost of the country's main islands. The Russian areas nearest the quake's epicentre on the Kamchatka Peninsula reported damage and evacuations, but no serious injuries. The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko. He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami had been generated by the quake that could cause damage along the coastlines of all the Hawaiian islands. 'Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,' the warning stated. The first waves were expected around 19:00 on Tuesday local time. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said on Facebook that small tsunami waves were expected along the coast starting around 23:40 local time, with wave heights between 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimetres). It urged people to stay away from beaches, harbours and marinas and to remain in a safe location away from the coast until the advisory is lifted. 'This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water,' the department said. Oregon is under a tsunami advisory, along with much of the West Coast spanning Canada's British Columbia province, Washington state and California. The quake at 08:25 Japan time had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, Japan and US seismologists said. The US Geological Survey later updated its measurement to 8.8 magnitude and the USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 20.7km. The quake was centered about 119km east-southeast from the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180 000, on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Multiple aftershocks as strong as 6.9 magnitude were recorded. The quake caused damage to buildings and cars swayed in the streets in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which also had power outages and mobile phone service failures. Russian news agencies quoting the regional Health Ministry saying several people sought medical help in Kamchatka after the earthquake, but no serious injuries were reported. The earthquake appeared to be the strongest anywhere in the world since the March 2011 earthquake off northeast Japan that was 9.0 magnitude and caused a massive tsunami that set off meltdowns at a nuclear power plant. Only a few stronger earthquakes have ever been measured around the world. Japanese nuclear power plants along the Pacific coast have reported no abnormalities after Wednesday's quake. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, said about 4 000 workers are taking shelter on higher ground at the plant complex while monitoring remotely to ensure plant safety. Philippine authorities warned provinces and towns along the archipelago's eastern coast facing the Pacific of possible tsunami waves of less than 1 metre (3 feet) and advised people to stay away from the beach and coastal areas. 'It may not be the largest of waves, but these can continue for hours and expose people swimming in the waters to danger,' Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told The Associated Press. New Zealand authorities issued warnings of 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges' along coastlines throughout the country. The government emergency management agency said people should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas, and away from harbors, marinas, rivers and estuaries. New Zealand is in the South Pacific and about 9 600km from the epicenter. The quake was the strongest to hit this area in the Kamchatka Peninsula since 1952, according to the local branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences. They said that while the situation 'was under control' there are risks of aftershocks, which could last for up to a month and warned against visiting certain coastal areas. Earlier in July, five powerful quakes – the largest with a magnitude of 7.4 – struck in the sea near Kamchatka. The largest quake was at a depth of 20km and was 144km east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. On November 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka caused damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-metre (30-foot) waves in Hawaii. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
Ya Libnan
a day ago
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
‘There is no alternative to the two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict': Watch
There is 'no alternative' to a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians, France told a UN conference co-chaired with Saudi Arabia. Days before the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would formally recognize a State of Palestine in September. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney welcomes Dr. Gershon Baskin, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Alliance for Two States, Middle East Director of the International Communities Organisation, Advisor to both Israeli, Palestinian and International Prime Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process.
Ya Libnan
a day ago
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Sweida, Syria's Druze city is a wasteland of burning cars and looted homes after clashes
Large sections of the city of Sweida seemed to be on fire . There were multiple buildings, homes, flats, shops and businesses ravaged by flames. The Government forces which came to stop the fighting joined the Bedouins in their fight against the Druze , shot and killed hundreds of Druze civilians and burned their homes and cars The southwestern Syrian city of Sweida is a wasteland of burned cars and looted homes after violent clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin groups in mid-July left more than 1,000 dead. Bodies decomposing in the sweltering heat line the city's streets. FRANCE 24's Jenna Le Bras and Dana Alboz were the first journalists to enter the previously sealed-off city centre, where the atrocities were the most violent, to report on the aftermath of the conflict. Sweida- In the Syrian southwestern city of Sweida, violent clashes have erupted between Druze factions and Bedouin groups. More than 1,000 have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and a further 145,000 have been displaced, said the International Organisation for Migration. Eyewitnesses have accused Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government troops of complicity and direct involvement in the massacres. Two weeks after the fighting began , FRANCE 24's journalists were the first to enter the previously sealed-off city centre, where the atrocities were the most violent. Humanitarian organisations have not yet been able to access this part of the city. The atrocities in Sweida are reminiscent of the coastal massacres that occurred in March , as Syria struggles to recover from 13 years of war . France 24
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Live: French FM Barrot urges press access to Gaza after famine warnings mount
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Tuesday urged Israel to allow foreign press into Gaza after a French news agency warned that the lives of its Palestinian journalists in the besieged enclave were at risk as warnings of famine mount after 21 months of war. Follow our live blog for the latest developments. (FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and Reuters)
France 24
21-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Gaza: Israeli military expands ground operation into city of Deir al-Balah
Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern districts of the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area where Israeli sources said the military believes hostages may be held. As FRANCE 24's Noga Tarnopolsky explains, it is difficult to collect information on this military operations, but more and more countries are condemning Israel over its war in Gaza. Video by: Noga TARNOPOLSKY
