A very strong earthquake has hit the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East, causing panic, destruction, and tsunami warnings in many countries around the Pacific Ocean. The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.8, making it one of the strongest quakes in recent years. It struck on Wednesday morning, shaking buildings and raising fears of a tsunami across nearby nations.

What happened in Kamchatka?

The earthquake happened near Avacha Bay, which is about 125 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a big city with almost 180,000 people. It struck at a depth of around 20 km. Because it was shallow and very powerful, it caused large waves that flooded coastal areas and damaged many buildings and roads.

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, “buildings shook violently, cars swayed, and several structures collapsed.” There were power cuts and mobile network problems in the area. Emergency workers said some people needed medical help, but no major injuries were reported yet. The Kuril Islands nearby, especially Severo-Kurilsk, also saw tsunami activity, and people were told to move to higher ground.

This was the strongest earthquake in Kamchatka since 1952. That earlier quake was even more powerful, with a magnitude of 9.0. It had caused 9-meter-high waves that even reached Hawaii. Experts say this latest quake happened in the same kind of area, a "subduction zone" where one part of the Earth's surface moves under another, which often causes big earthquakes.

Tsunami alerts around the Pacific

Because of the strength of the quake, countries around the Pacific Ocean quickly issued tsunami warnings. Russia, Japan, Canada, and the United States began evacuating people from coastal towns right away. In Hawaii, the tsunami warning came during the afternoon rush hour. Sirens rang out, and people rushed to higher ground, causing big traffic jams. “Schools in the region cancelled all after-school activities, and local authorities warned of dangerous waves.”

In Japan, a 50 cm wave was recorded in the port of Ishinomaki. While no major injuries have been reported there, “precautionary evacuations were carried out across the region.”

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre warned that “the waves had the potential to damage coastlines across the islands.” In Oregon and Canada’s British Columbia, authorities asked people to stay away from beaches and ports. The Philippines and New Zealand also gave similar warnings and advised people to avoid coastlines because of strong waves and undercurrents.

Kamchatka is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions happen. The land sits where the Pacific Plate goes under the Okhotsk Plate. This movement happens at about 86 millimetres per year, which makes the region prone to powerful quakes.

Experts say more aftershocks are expected. Some have already reached up to 6.9 in magnitude, and tremors might continue for weeks. This natural disaster is a reminder that many areas around the Pacific face the constant danger of earthquakes and tsunamis and need to stay prepared.

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