Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Off Russia Triggers Tsunami Warnings Across the Pacific

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, triggering tsunamis up to four metres high and prompting evacuations across the Pacific, from Hawaii to Japan. The quake, one of the strongest ever recorded, hit near Petropavlovsk and caused serious flooding in the port town of Severo-Kurilsk.

Waves crashed through the harbor, submerging a local fishing plant and reaching as far inland as a World War II monument, roughly 400 meters from the shore. Authorities confirmed the town’s population of about 2,000 people was evacuated, with several people injured, though none seriously.

Residents described intense shaking and fear as buildings trembled. One woman in Kamchatka said she had a packed emergency bag by the door and ran out as soon as the quake hit. Officials said this was the most powerful earthquake in Kamchatka since 1952 and the strongest globally since the 2011 Japan quake, which killed over 15,000 people.

Countries around the Pacific Rim issued tsunami alerts. In Japan, nearly two million people were urged to evacuate, and a wave measuring 1.3 metres hit Iwate Prefecture.

Local media reported that one woman died after accidentally driving off a cliff while trying to flee. In Hawaii, tsunami sirens sounded near Waikiki Beach, leading to traffic gridlock as residents moved to higher ground. Governor Josh Green halted flights to and from Maui as a precaution, though the alert was later downgraded to an advisory.

Elsewhere, coastal authorities in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile advised residents to stay away from beaches and low-lying areas. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported waves exceeding three metres above tide level were possible in parts of Russia, Ecuador, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Waves between one and three metres were expected in locations including Japan, Hawaii, and Chile, with up to one metre possible in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Taiwan, and Tonga.

At least six aftershocks followed the initial quake, including ones measuring 6.9 and 6.3. The US Geological Survey said the epicenter was close to the location of a 1952 quake that also triggered a devastating Pacific-wide tsunami.

They added that Wednesday’s event ranks among the ten most powerful earthquakes ever recorded.

On social media, U.S. President Donald Trump urged affected regions to “stay strong and stay safe” as global emergency services remained on high alert.