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According to regional emergency minister Sergei Lebedev, tsunami waves as high as three to four meters were observed in Kamchatka. In addition to Hawaii, where a tsunami watch is in force, evacuations were mandated in Kamchatka, Japan.
Moscow: An 8.8-magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami in the northern Pacific region and prompted warnings for Alaska, Hawaii, and south toward New Zealand was one of the strongest earthquakes in history to strike Russia’s Far East early Wednesday. The 180,000-person Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, was approximately 119 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake. On Tuesday, Honolulu residents evacuated to higher ground as tsunami warning sirens sounded. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Nemuro on Hokkaido’s eastern shore was hit by the first tsunami wave, which was around 30 cm in size. The Russian areas closest to the quake’s epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula reported damage and evacuations.
Although they did not issue evacuation orders, authorities in several small island nations in the South Pacific Ocean advised citizens to avoid coasts, become familiar with evacuation routes, and wait for additional instructions from officials. Some small, low-lying Pacific island chains are among the most vulnerable to rising sea levels and tsunamis worldwide. Authorities in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Solomon Islands issued warnings to avoid beaches until any wave surges subsided late Wednesday.
According to a report by NHK World, a tsunami warning of up to three meters has been issued along the Pacific coast of Japan, extending from Hokkaido in the north to Wakayama in the south. Residents in the impacted areas have been asked by authorities to stay away from their homes and not come back until all warnings have been formally rescinded. Numerous locations along the coast have already seen tsunami waves. Interestingly, a wave measuring 1.3 meters was captured at Iwate Prefecture’s Kuji Port. Emergency personnel are keeping a close eye on the situation and stressing the need to be vigilant and adhere to official instructions until the threat has completely gone.
Following a huge earthquake in Russia, tsunami waves have made their way to the US states of Hawaii and Alaska. Authorities verified that waves had arrived along portions of both coastlines, triggering alerts and emergency measures in some areas.
As of lunchtime Wednesday, Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said that almost 2 million people were under evacuation advisories in over 220 municipalities along the Pacific coast. It further stated that a woman in her 60s tripped while rushing to depart the northern island of Hokkaido, mildly injuring one person. They brought her to a hospital.
According to local media, a state of emergency has been imposed in the northern Kuril Islands of Russia after tsunami waves were observed inundating a port town. Authorities in the Sakhalin region made the announcement in response to the events that are developing.