Key Details and Impacted Regions
A powerful earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula coast on Tuesday, causing injuries and triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific, including Ecuador, Japan, and Hawaii.
Japan
- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecasted waves of up to 3 meters expected to hit Japan’s Pacific coast between 10:00 and 11:30 AM local time.
- The first tsunami wave of 30 centimeters was observed along Japan’s coast, with subsequent waves potentially reaching greater heights.
- The tsunami reached Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, according to NHK.
- Japanese authorities warned of waves up to 3 meters high impacting the Pacific coast of Japan.
Russia and Hawaii
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, USA, issued alerts for waves over 3 meters high along parts of Russia’s and Hawaii’s coasts “within the next three hours.”
Guam, an American island in the Pacific, could experience waves of 1 to 3 meters, according to the warning center.
The entire North American coastline from Alaska to California, including Hawaii, is under tsunami warnings of varying degrees, as per the center.
Earthquake Details
The earthquake occurred at 11:25 PM GMT on Tuesday, with its epicenter located approximately 86 miles east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, at a depth of 19 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Russian state media reported injuries in Kamchatka, with regional governor Vladimir Solodov urging residents to stay away from the coast.
At least six aftershocks, including a 6.9 and a 6.3 magnitude quake, were felt in the region following the primary earthquake.
A tsunami wave flooded the Russian town of Severo-Kurilsk, located in the Kuril Islands, according to local authorities.
On July 20, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the same region, followed by numerous aftershocks, but caused minimal damage.
Seismic Activity in Kamchatka
The Kamchatka Peninsula serves as the meeting point of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions on Earth.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the magnitude of the earthquake? The earthquake measured 8.7 on the Richter scale.
- Which countries issued tsunami alerts? Tsunami warnings were issued for Ecuador, Japan, Hawaii, Russia, and parts of the North American coastline from Alaska to California.
- What were the expected wave heights? Waves up to 3 meters high were forecasted for Japan’s Pacific coast, while Russia and Hawaii were warned of waves over 3 meters. Guam could experience waves between 1 to 3 meters.
- Where was the earthquake’s epicenter located? The epicenter was approximately 86 miles east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
- What is the significance of Kamchatka in terms of seismic activity? The Kamchatka Peninsula is a seismically active region due to its position where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates meet.
