Russia 8.7 magnitude earthquake: Tsunami sirens, mass evacuations, and global precautions | Top 10 updates

Russia earthquake

A powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, triggering tsunami waves up to 4 meters and prompting widespread alerts and evacuations across the northern Pacific - marking the region’s strongest quake since 1952.

According to Reuters, the earthquake caused structural damage to multiple buildings in the region. Emergency services have been deployed, and authorities have urged residents in high-risk coastal areas to remain on alert for aftershocks and potential secondary waves. Details on casualties or the full scope of the damage are still emerging.

Tsunami sirens were sounded in Honolulu on Tuesday, leading to the evacuation of residents to higher ground. Alerts were issued from Alaska and Hawaii to regions as far south as New Zealand, as the tsunami threat expanded across the Pacific basin.

In Severo-Kurilsk, the main town in Russia’s Kuril Islands, local governor Valery Limarenko stated that the first wave had reached the area. He added that residents remained safe on higher ground as officials monitored the possibility of additional waves.

1. Mexican authorities mobilized at all levels to prevent the public from accessing Pacific beaches after tsunami warnings were issued in the wake of the quake.
2. Staff at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear facility were evacuated as a precaution after tsunami alerts were triggered by the powerful quake near Russia.
3. Warning sirens blared across Hawaii, leading to mass evacuations and significant traffic congestion in downtown Honolulu.
4. The town of Severo-Kurilsk in Russia experienced tsunami flooding, with social media footage showing waves surging inland, impacting the small community of 2,000.
5. US President Donald Trump alerted the public via social media, confirming active tsunami warnings for Hawaii and watches for Alaska and the U.S. Pacific Coast, urging people to stay informed via tsunami.gov.
6. The U.S. National Weather Service reported that tsunami waves could reach California’s coastline around 12:30 AM PDT on July 30, advising coastal communities to stay on alert.
7. Indonesia issued its own tsunami warning, anticipating wave heights of up to half a meter along vulnerable coastal regions.
8. Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed a 40 cm tsunami had reached Tokachi in Hokkaido, prompting continued monitoring for further wave activity.
9. The Indian Consulate in San Francisco is monitoring the tsunami threat after the 8.7 quake in Russia and has issued safety advice for Indians in California, the US West Coast, and Hawaii.
10. Peru has issued a tsunami warning following the powerful earthquake off Russia’s coast, while a tsunami alert has also been issued for parts of eastern China, according to their respective warning centers.