Kamchatka, Russia : A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake jolted Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the early hours of Wednesday, sending shockwaves across the Pacific Rim and sparking widespread panic. The quake struck at 4:54 AM IST, shaking buildings and prompting mass evacuations in coastal regions.
Within the span of 24 hours, the region experienced over 200 aftershocks, alarming residents and authorities alike. Following the seismic event, tsunami alerts were swiftly issued in Russia, Japan, and the United States, as oceanic monitoring systems detected disturbances capable of generating tidal waves up to three feet high.
Authorities in all three countries urged residents along the coastline to move to higher ground immediately, as a precaution against potential tsunami impacts.
This quake is the strongest to strike Kamchatka since 1952, raising fears of further geological instability. Government sources in Japan confirmed that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was briefed on the situation, while Russia’s emergency response agencies held high-level meetings to review readiness and launch rescue operations.
Emergency teams have been placed on high alert, and evacuation procedures have been activated in several vulnerable areas. No major casualties have yet been reported, though damage assessments are ongoing.
