ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday, shaking the Far Eastern region and prompting tsunami warnings across much of the Pacific, including Japan, Hawaii, Chile, and French Polynesia.
The shallow quake — centered 119 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — caused damage to buildings and left several people injured in Kamchatka. Residents described the shaking as lasting for over three minutes. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov called it the strongest quake in the region since 1952.
In Russia’s Severo-Kurilsk, tsunami waves surged over 5 meters, flooding the port area and damaging a fish processing plant. Regional authorities reported that vessels were swept from their moorings, and verified drone footage showed the entire shoreline submerged, with water surrounding buildings as it receded back into the ocean.
Japan, still haunted by the 2011 tsunami disaster, issued evacuation orders for tens of thousands along its Pacific coast. A 58-year-old woman in Mie Prefecture died when her vehicle fell off a cliff during evacuation. TEPCO, operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant, evacuated workers but reported no irregularities at any facility. Train services in Tokyo and surrounding regions were disrupted, stranding commuters during the evening rush.
Hawaii also issued tsunami alerts and recorded waves up to 1.7 meters. Airports were briefly shut down but resumed operations after warnings were downgraded. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said Hawaii was no longer at risk of a major tsunami. Small waves were reported as far as California and Canada’s British Columbia.
In French Polynesia, authorities warned of waves up to 4 meters and instructed residents of remote Marquesas Islands to seek higher ground. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the military was on standby for rescue or evacuation operations.
Russia’s emergency ministry said a kindergarten was damaged in Kamchatka, but most buildings withstood the tremors. Regional health officials confirmed several people sought medical treatment. In one hospital, surgeons continued an operation during the quake, as shown in a video released by the health ministry.
Geologists from the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service described the quake as “serious,” noting that although its magnitude was high, shaking intensity was somewhat less than expected due to specific epicenter characteristics. Aftershocks continue, but experts say no larger quake is immediately expected.
Kamchatka lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a highly active seismic zone prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This latest event highlights the persistent threat posed by tectonic activity in the region — both for Russia and neighboring nations across the Pacific Rim.
