A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific region, prompting evacuations and emergency declarations in multiple countries.
Tsunami Warnings Issued
The massive undersea quake — among the strongest ever recorded — has prompted tsunami alerts for Japan, China, the Philippines, and parts of the United States, including Hawaii, California, and Alaska.
The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed that the first tsunami waves had begun reaching Hawaii and the northern coast of California. Tide gauges detected rising sea levels, and authorities have warned residents to stay away from coastlines as the waves are expected to intensify with the incoming high tide.
Evacuations in Hawaii
Hawaii meteorologist Malika Dudley reported that “every single island in Hawaii” was affected, with significant traffic congestion as residents and tourists rushed to evacuate coastal areas.
“Every single part of the coastline is in a tsunami evacuation zone,” Dudley said from Kauai, the state’s northernmost island. She emphasized the urgency of disseminating information, particularly to tourists and hotels located within evacuation areas.
“We need to either vertically evacuate or evacuate inland,” she added, noting that communication systems and traffic coordination could be improved.
Dudley explained that officials would continue to monitor wave patterns to determine when it would be safe to downgrade the alert level. “We cannot go from a warning to an advisory until the warning center sees a series of waves and a pattern of lowering wave heights,” she said.
Despite the serious situation, she reported that the public remained calm. “Most people are putting their kids to bed and hoping for the best.”
Tsunami Reaches California
The National Weather Service in Eureka, California, confirmed that tsunami waves had reached the northern coast of the state. Officials urged residents to avoid beaches as wave activity was expected to build throughout the night.
Russia Declares State of Emergency
Meanwhile, Russia has declared a state of emergency on the Kuril Islands near the earthquake’s epicenter. Several tsunami waves flooded the main city of Severokurilsk, where waves reached over three meters, damaging boats, flooding a processing plant, and knocking out power.
The Kuril Islands, which lie just south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, are a longstanding territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. The islands were seized by the Soviet Union during the final days of World War II, and the disagreement has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty.
Surgeons Work Through Tremors
A dramatic video shared by Russian officials shows surgeons in a cancer clinic holding onto a patient and medical equipment as the earthquake struck. Despite the violent tremors, the medical team managed to remain composed and continued their operation once the shaking subsided.
Russia’s regional health minister praised the team as “heroes in white coats.”
Authorities across the Pacific continue to monitor wave activity and damage assessments as the situation unfolds.
