A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, prompting widespread tsunami alerts across the Pacific, including warnings for Japan, the United States, Mexico, and parts of South America and Asia.
The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 119 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 19.3 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.9, with seismologists warning that aftershocks up to 7.5 in magnitude could continue over the next month.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center quickly issued alerts for coastal areas, especially Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. West Coast. Japan also went on high alert, still haunted by memories of the catastrophic 2011 tsunami that killed around 18,000 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Mexico issued a warning for its Pacific coast, particularly around Ensenada near the U.S. border, where waves were expected to arrive by 2:22 AM local time. Ecuador began evacuating parts of the Galapagos Islands. Tsunami watches were also issued in China and other Pacific Rim nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged residents in affected regions to remain cautious: “Stay strong and take care of yourselves!”
The Kamchatka quake occurred within the “Ring of Fire” — a volatile seismic zone encircling the Pacific Ocean known for frequent and powerful earthquakes due to the movement of tectonic plates. Shallow undersea quakes in this region are especially dangerous, as they can rapidly displace large volumes of water and trigger high-speed tsunami waves.
A tsunami (Japanese for “harbor wave”) is typically caused by sudden underwater disturbances such as earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. Unlike ordinary waves, a tsunami is a surge of water moving as a wall, often sweeping inland and continuing into rivers without losing height.
Global seismic agencies are closely tracking ocean activity, with authorities urging caution in tsunami-prone regions. The situation is developing, and residents in affected areas are advised to follow updates from local emergency services.
There is no threat to Israel from this event, as it lies far from the Pacific basin and is not geologically linked to the Ring of Fire.
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