Powerful 8.8 Earthquake Hits Russia's Kamchatka, Triggers Global Tsunami Alerts

New Delhi (India) July 30: An earthquake of magnitude 8.8 strikes the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia early on Wednesday.

Strongest Quake in 14 Years

The earthquake is also the strongest to hit the world in 14 years. It causes a tsunami up to 4 meters (13 feet) in height. The tsunami has damaged structures and prompted evacuation alerts in a number of places in the US and Japan.

Warnings Across Countries

There have been tsunami warnings issued in China, Peru and Ecuador after the powerful 8.8 earthquake that hit Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

In Peru, the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy said, “After an analysis and evaluation by the National Tsunami Warning Center, it has been determined that this event generates a tsunami warning for the Peruvian coast,” in an official statement. 

Ecuador’s Secretariat for Risk Management said, "A tsunami warning has been established for the Insular Region (Galapagos), which indicates the immediate suspension of maritime activities, as well as preventive evacuations of beaches, docks and low-lying areas” in an advisory.

The Ministry of National Resources, China predicts that the waves will be between 30 cm and 1 m high.

The advisory said, "Based on the latest warning and analysis results, the Tsunami Advisory Center of the Ministry of National Resources has determined that the earthquake has triggered a tsunami, which is expected to cause damage to certain coastal areas of China.” 

Strong waves are a major threat posed by tremors. The most threatening are states like Japan, Hawaii and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. They are all under a number of tsunami warnings.

Evacuations Underway

After nationwide tsunami warnings, employees at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant were ordered to evacuate early on Wednesday. According to the plant's operator, all 4,000 employees have been evacuated. No "abnormalities" have been found as of now.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a tsunami wave measuring roughly 30 centimeters also made its way to Nemuro on Hokkaido's eastern coast. In the northern Pacific, tremors also caused a tsunami. The coastal regions in Alaska, Hawaii, Chile, the Solomon Islands and southward into New Zealand are on alert. 

According to Valery Limarenko, the local governor, the first tsunami wave struck the coastal region of Severo-Kurilsk. It is the principal community on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific. A tsunami about 3–4 meters in height was also observed in some areas of Kamchatka.

Aadrika Tayal