On Wednesday morning, a massive earthquake shook the eastern coast of Russia, causing panic and tsunami warnings across many parts of the world. The earthquake was extremely powerful, with a magnitude of 8.8, which is considered one of the strongest types of earthquakes. The earthquake erupted under the ocean, causing the sea to move and create tsunamis. The tsunamis can travel thousands of miles across the ocean and can cause major flooding and destruction when they reach land.
The earthquake struck near the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia at 11:25 AM local time. This area is known for earthquakes and volcanoes because it sits on the edge of a tectonic plate, where a lot of earth movement happens. In the region closest to the earthquake, waves up to four meters high (over 13 feet) and flooding were reported. These large waves caused damage to parts of Russia near the coast.
Tsunami warnings affected far beyond Russia. Warnings were sent out to many places around the Pacific Ocean. In Japan, which often experiences earthquakes, smaller waves about 60 centimeters high (around 2 feet) reached the northern coastline. Even though the waves weren’t very tall, they still made people cautious. In Hawaii, people living in low-lying areas of Honolulu were told to move to higher ground. Sirens went off across the island, warning people to prepare for the possible arrival of tsunami waves. In California, people were told to stay away from beaches as a safety measure, even though the waves there were expected to be smaller.
Other countries, including Chile, Costa Rica, and many Pacific islands, were also told that waves as high as three meters (almost 10 feet) could hit their coasts. Although not every country saw large waves, the warnings helped people get ready just in case.
Dr. Amy Gilligan, a seismologist (a scientist who studies earthquakes), said it was lucky that the damage wasn’t worse. She said they had time to take action because some places were far enough from the earthquake’s center. She also mentioned the preventative measures Japan has taken to avoid the damage of earthquakes, like having buildings made to withstand shaking.
Luckily, no injuries or deaths have been reported so far. One big reason is that the earthquake happened far away from large cities, giving people more time to prepare. In places like Hawaii, people received warnings on their phones, giving them a few hours to move to safer places. That time made a big difference and may have saved many lives.