Why Russia’s 8.8 quake is among the strongest in history and what it means

Russia earthquake (Image: AFP)

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s eastern coast early Wednesday, tying for the sixth most powerful quake ever recorded, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). If this figure holds after review, it will rank as the strongest earthquake since Japan’s devastating 2011 disaster, the New York Times reported. That 9.1-magnitude event caused a massive tsunami and led to the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

Tremors that rival the world’s deadliest

To understand the scale of Wednesday’s quake, consider this: a magnitude 8.8 earthquake releases more than 31 times the energy of a magnitude 7.8 quake. While Japan’s 2011 quake was still nearly three times stronger, this one was powerful enough to trigger immediate alerts across the region and is likely to leave behind vast destruction.

Estimated damage could be in tens of billions

The USGS has estimated that economic losses from the earthquake could reach tens of billions of dollars. “Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” the agency said. It also noted that similar events in the past have required national or even international responses to manage rescue and recovery.

Historic comparisons to world’s biggest quakes

This event now ranks among the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The top five quakes according to USGS include the 1960 Chile earthquake (9.5), the 1964 Alaska quake (9.2), the 2004 Sumatra quake (9.1), the 2011 Japan quake (9.1), and the 1952 Kamchatka quake (9.0)—also in Russia. Wednesday’s 8.8 quake, if confirmed, fits just below that list.

Fallout still being assessed

The full scale of destruction, casualties, or tsunami impact is still being verified. Authorities have yet to announce whether Wednesday’s quake caused a tsunami or if coastal evacuations were carried out. However, given its magnitude, regional monitoring agencies and disaster preparedness teams have likely been mobilized at the highest level.