KAMCHATKA :(The COW News Digital)-A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7 struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia early on Wednesday.
The powerful tremors ignited tsunami warnings for coastal regions thousands of kilometres away, including Japan and the US state of Hawaii.The earthquake is the strongest recorded worldwide this year. It originated about 125 km offshore near the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The quake was relatively shallow, occurring approximately] 19 km below the seabed.
Despite the remote location, the seismic event caused damage on land, including to a kindergarten building. No casualties were reported so far.
Tsunami waves up to four meters were observed along the parts of the Kamchatka coast. Authorities ordered immediate evacuations of residents living near the shore to protect them from the incoming waves.
Tsunami warnings beyond Russia
Warnings spread beyond Russia, with Japan’s meteorological agency forecasted tsunami waves as high as three meters hitting multiple coastal areas. It urged people to evacuate low-lying zones.
Across the Pacific, US agencies issued tsunami watches and warnings for Hawaii, Guam and several Micronesian islands. It cautioned residents to stay alert and prepare for possible hazardous wavesThe Kamchatka Peninsula is located within the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a seismically active zone for frequent powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
