A massive earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean, prompting widespread tsunami warnings and alerts from Japan to Mexico and New Zealand.
The earthquake, which occurred at 8:25 am local time, sent tsunami waves to coastal areas of Russia’s Kuril Islands and Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido.
Japan’s Meteorological Office has issued a tsunami warning, predicting waves up to 1.5 feet along the Pacific coastline. Officials have cautioned that larger waves may follow, keeping emergency services on high alert.
In Russia, local reports from Severo-Kurilsk confirmed minor flooding and injuries, though no fatalities have been reported so far. Communication services in the region were temporarily interrupted but have since been restored.
Meanwhile, Japan placed around one million people under evacuation advisories across 133 municipalities, stretching from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
The country’s transportation services were heavily impacted, with ferry routes suspended and some rail lines delayed. As a precaution, Sendai Airport temporarily closed its runway.
Tsunami warnings have also reached China, particularly for its eastern coastline, including Shanghai and Zhejiang provinces. Officials predict wave heights of up to 3.3 feet. This comes as China is already preparing for Typhoon CoMay, which is expected to make landfall later on Wednesday.
The United States also issued tsunami warnings and advisories for coastal areas in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii.
Authorities expect wave heights to range from less than one foot to as much as five feet in some isolated locations. In Hawaii, evacuation shelters have been opened, and public transit services in Honolulu have been suspended. Residents are urged to move inland and avoid the coastline.
In Canada, British Columbia’s coastal regions have been warned about incoming waves. Tofino and other communities near beaches and marinas were advised to evacuate low-lying areas as a precaution.
Mexico’s Navy also issued a tsunami alert, predicting waves ranging from 1 to 3.3 feet along the Pacific coast. The first waves are expected to hit the northern city of Ensenada and continue southward to Chiapas.
Authorities in the US have confirmed that the earthquake is one of the most powerful global tremors in over a decade, raising concerns about potential devastating tsunamis and other disasters.
As the situation unfolds, countries across the Pacific are on high alert, and evacuation measures are in place to ensure the safety of residents in the affected regions.
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