Massive 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake off Russia’s Fareastern Coast Triggers Tsunami Warnings

A massive 8.8-magnitude megathrust earthquake has struck off Russia’s fareastern coast. Tsunami alerts have been issued in Japan (coastal regions from Hokkaido to Kyushu), all of the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii, Guam, and portions of Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake struck about 78 miles from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 11 miles, at 23:24:50 UTC. USGS says the earthquake is tied at the sixth most severe in history.

While 10–13-foot tsunami waves have hit Kamchatka, minimal damage has so far been reported. Japanese meterologists have forecast similar-sized tsunami waves hitting Japan’s coast, urging residents in affected areas to evacuate immediately. Officials in Hawaii have ordered an immediate evacuation of large parts of Oahu, including Honolulu.

DPG hopes everyone in the affected coastal areas is out of harm’s way.