Articles in this Cluster
31-07-2025
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Far East, prompting tsunami warnings in coastal towns across multiple countries, including Hawaii, Japan, and Russia. Experts say the tsunami generated was not expected to cause mass devastation, but could still cause coastal flooding and damage. The earthquake occurred on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to significant earthquakes. While the quake was powerful, it was not as strong as magnitude 9.1 earthquakes that caused devastating tsunamis in Japan in 2011 and Indonesia in 2004, which released three to four times more energy. Experts emphasized that tsunamis should be thought of as "ocean floods" rather than waves, and that the key to safety is moving to high ground when warnings are issued.
31-07-2025
Tsunami alerts were issued across the Pacific after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Far East, prompting evacuations of over 2 million people in areas including Russia, Japan, and Hawaii. Despite initial warnings, the tsunami alerts were largely lifted as the threat receded, with some areas experiencing minor flooding and strong waves. Hawaii recorded waves of up to 1.7m, while Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula saw waves of up to 5m. Japan, the US, and other Pacific countries issued tsunami warnings, but most were later downgraded or cancelled. The earthquake, one of the strongest ever recorded, caused some damage in Russia, but no major injuries or damage were reported. The Klyuchevskoy Volcano in Kamchatka began erupting following the quake.
31-07-2025
A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Russia, raising concerns of a catastrophic tsunami across the Pacific. Although millions were evacuated, the resulting tsunami was less severe than feared, with waves reaching 4m in parts of eastern Russia. The earthquake occurred in the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where the Pacific plate is moving beneath the Okhotsk microplate, causing a megathrust earthquake. The relatively limited damage was due to factors such as the shape of the seafloor and land, as well as improved early warning systems that allowed for evacuations. Experts suggest that the earthquake's depth and the accuracy of tsunami models may have also played a role in the relatively limited impact.
31-07-2025
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting tsunami warnings for Hawaii, Japan, and parts of the Pacific Coast. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center estimated the first tsunami wave would hit Hawaii at 7:17 p.m. local time, with waves of 1 to 3 meters possible along some coastal areas. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation, warning of potential flooding and damage. The tsunami warning was later downgraded to an advisory. Tsunami advisories were also issued for parts of Alaska and the entire West Coast. Japan's meteorological agency reported a first tsunami wave of about 1 foot reached Nemuro on the eastern coast of Hokkaido. The earthquake was felt in Russia, with reports of power outages and mobile phone service failures in the Kamchatka region.
31-07-2025
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast, and Japan. The quake caused flooding and injuries in Russia's Far East, with 16-foot waves reported. Initial tsunami warnings were issued for Hawaii, but later downgraded to advisories, and eventually canceled. The U.S. West Coast, including California, Oregon, and Washington, also received tsunami advisories, with some areas experiencing small to moderate-sized waves. Japan's east coast and southern islands remained under tsunami advisories. South American countries, including Chile, issued new warnings and evacuation orders. Experts warned that the effects of the earthquake could continue for some time, with tsunamis potentially causing a series of powerful waves over several hours. By Wednesday afternoon, many of the warnings and advisories had been lifted, with officials stating that the worst was over.
31-07-2025
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Far East, potentially the sixth largest on record, causing a tsunami and triggering warnings across the Pacific, including in Japan, the US, and the Philippines. The quake, centered 125km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, resulted in waves of up to 4m in the Kamchatka Peninsula, damaging buildings and injuring several people. Some of the strongest earthquakes in history include the 9.5 magnitude Valdivia earthquake in Chile (1960), the 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Alaska (1964), and the 9.1 magnitude earthquakes in Sumatra, Indonesia (2004) and Tohoku, Japan (2011), which caused widespread destruction and thousands of deaths. Other significant earthquakes include the 9.0 magnitude quake in Kamchatka, Russia (1952), and the 8.8 magnitude quakes in Biobio, Chile (2010) and Esmeraldas, Ecuador (1906).
31-07-2025
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Far East, occurring on a fault line along the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, a subduction zone where the Pacific tectonic plate is diving beneath other plates. Some seismologists had anticipated this earthquake, as the last major quake in the area was in 1952 and significant tectonic movement had built up since then. A series of foreshocks, including a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, suggested a major quake was imminent. Although the earthquake was powerful, the resulting tsunami waves were not as large as expected, and no fatalities have been reported so far, likely due to the sparsely populated area and warnings issued after the foreshocks.
31-07-2025
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including Japan, Hawaii, the US, Mexico, and New Zealand. The quake, which occurred 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, caused widespread damage and injuries in Russia, with waves of up to 4m recorded in Severo-Kurilsk. Tsunami waves also hit Japan, Hawaii, and the US West Coast, prompting evacuations and warnings, but initial fears of deadly consequences did not materialize. Several countries, including China, the Philippines, and Pacific Island nations, issued tsunami advisories or warnings, but many have since been downgraded or cancelled. So far, there are no reported deaths, but several people were injured in various countries.
31-07-2025
Japan remained on alert for tsunami waves on Thursday after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula triggered waves along the Pacific coast on Wednesday. Although warnings were downgraded to advisories, they remained in place for many areas, with the Japan Meteorological Agency assessing whether to lift them on Thursday evening. Tsunami waves as high as 70cm were observed in over 10 locations on Thursday, and the agency warned residents to stay away from the sea and coastline. One person died and 10 were injured in relation to the tsunami warnings.
31-07-2025
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit a sparsely populated region in far east Russia, triggering a tsunami that prompted warnings and evacuations across the Pacific. Thanks to a global and highly successful disaster response effort, led by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) in Hawaii, more than three million people were warned to evacuate their homes, and damage was limited. The PTWC, founded in 1949, identified the size and depth of the earthquake and triggered a tsunami warning, allowing communities from Japan to Hawaii to take action. Experts praised the effectiveness of the warning system, which was put in place after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and credited it with saving thousands of lives. However, the PTWC is part of a US government agency that has faced funding cuts, highlighting the need for continued investment in disaster preparedness.
