A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake has struck off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula at about 11:25 local time on Wednesday. A tsunami with a height of 3-4 metres (10-13 feet) has been recorded in parts of Kamchatka in Russia and a more powerful tsunami will reach the coasts of Russia and Japan in next few hours, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
This marks the strongest tremor in decades, Governor Vladimir. Tsunami sirens were also blown in Honolulu. Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones says the tsunami could damage harbors and waterfront property in Hawaii—and possibly in California—but it is not expected to cause a catastrophic loss of life anywhere in the Americas.
An evacuation order for the small town of Severo-Kurilsk, south of the peninsula, was declared due to the tsunami threat following the earthquake, Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko said on Telegram.
The Kamchatka branch of Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram that a tsunami wave up to 32 cm (1 foot) high may reach the coast.
A tsunami wave measuring around 30 centimetres (one foot) was recorded in Japan, following which Sinichi Sakai, University of Tokyo seismologist, warned that even distanced earthquakes can bring tsunami in Japan if the epicenter is shallow.
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