A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 struck off the coast of Russia’s Far East on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuations across the Pacific region. The epicenter was located about 119 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 180,000 people on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The tremor, occurring at a depth of 20.7 kilometers, is one of the most powerful recorded globally in recent decades. A series of strong aftershocks, including one measured at 6.9, followed shortly after.

At least 4 whales have washed up along the coast of Japan, hours after 8.8 earthquake

Civilians seen on top of building in Hokkaido, Japan amid tsunami warning.

Tsunami Warning ⚠️ Russia, Alaska, Hawaii, Japan #earthquake #tsunami #Russia #Japan #Hawaii #Alaska pic.twitter.com/3BhfkszQjz

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Tsunami waves generated by the quake have already reached several locations. In Kamchatka, waves between 3 and 4 meters swamped port areas, prompting residents to flee inland. On Japan’s Hokkaido island, waves of up to 60 centimeters were recorded in coastal towns like Hamanaka and Kuji. Smaller surges were observed across Tokyo Bay and as far as Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a 20-centimeter rise in water levels in the bay five hours post-quake.

In the United States, tsunami advisories were issued along the Pacific coast, including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and parts of Hawaii. Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged residents to remain calm and heed evacuation orders, warning that the waves could "wrap around the islands" with significant force. Preliminary measurements from Midway Atoll recorded 6-foot waves from peak to trough. Emergency teams in Hawaii, including Black Hawk helicopters and high-water rescue vehicles, were placed on standby.

In Alaska, waves less than a foot were observed at Amchitka and Adak, but experts warned the risk could persist for an extended period. Dave Snider of the National Tsunami Warning Center explained that tsunamis move quickly across the ocean but slow and intensify near shorelines, making them potentially dangerous even if the initial wave seems minor. The threat could last more than a day in some areas.

On the US West Coast, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management warned residents to stay away from beaches and ports as waves of up to two feet could arrive around midnight local time. In British Columbia, Canada, authorities anticipated waves of less than a foot, particularly near Langara Island and Tofino.

Other nations issued warnings as well. The Philippines urged residents in eastern provinces to avoid coastal areas due to the possibility of waves up to one meter. Indonesia, Guam, Peru, and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands also remained on alert. Mexico’s navy forecast waves reaching the northern Ensenada coast early Wednesday, with the risk extending down to Chiapas later in the morning.

In Japan, the quake disrupted ferry services between Hokkaido and Aomori and caused delays on some train lines. Sendai airport briefly closed its runway. In Matsushima, a northern coastal town, residents quickly took refuge in evacuation centers. Many cited the trauma of the 2011 disaster as the reason for their immediate response. No issues were reported at Japan’s nuclear plants. Tokyo Electric Power Company, which manages the Fukushima Daiichi plant, confirmed that thousands of workers had taken shelter on higher ground as a precaution.

Russian authorities reported damage to buildings and power outages in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Phone services were also affected. Local officials in the Kuril Islands confirmed the first tsunami wave had reached Severo-Kurilsk, but all residents had evacuated safely. According to regional health officials, several people sought medical assistance in Kamchatka, though no serious injuries were reported.

The 8.8 quake is the strongest to hit Kamchatka since 1952, when a 9.0 magnitude quake caused significant damage and sent 30-foot waves to Hawaii, though no fatalities were reported at the time. The Russian Geophysical Survey has warned that aftershocks could persist for up to a month. Just weeks prior, the same region experienced five substantial quakes, the largest being magnitude 7.4.

Authorities across the Pacific continue to monitor the situation, warning residents to remain vigilant. While initial waves have passed without major destruction in most areas, the long-term effects and risks of continued seismic activity remain high.