Tsunami Alerts Issued Following 8.0 Magnitude Earthquake Near Kamchatka Peninsula

Japan's meteorological agency has upgraded an earlier advisory to a tsunami alert for the country's Pacific coast in response to a powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake that shook the region on the morning of July 30, close to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The agency has issued a warning of potential tsunami waves reaching up to 3 meters along Japan's northern coast, with estimates suggesting that they could begin to arrive within half an hour of the alert. Simultaneously, a tsunami warning has been extended to Hawaii, as the National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that the earthquake generated a tsunami that could pose risks to all the Hawaiian islands. Residents were urged to take urgent action to safeguard lives and property ahead of the anticipated waves, which are expected to start arriving around 7 PM local time. The seismic event struck at 8:25 AM, situated approximately 250 kilometers away from Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost major island. Despite the quake's strength, it was reported to be felt only slightly in the region according to NHK television. The U.S. Geological Survey noted that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 193 kilometers, initially assessing its magnitude at 8.7. Reports from Russia's TASS news agency indicated that in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the nearest significant city, residents fled into the streets in panic, many without shoes or outerwear. The earthquake caused domestic disturbances including toppled cabinets, broken mirrors, swaying cars in the street, and noticeable shaking of balconies on buildings. Furthermore, the region experienced power outages and disruptions to mobile phone services. In response to the potential tsunami threats, the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska issued warnings for parts of the Aleutian Islands as well as a watch for areas along the U.S. West Coast, which includes states such as California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The advisory includes a broad section of Alaska's coastline, particularly regions in the panhandle. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as they work to ensure the safety of residents across affected regions, emphasizing the seriousness of the tsunami risks stemming from such a significant seismic event. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2