Tsunami warning after powerful 8.8 quake off Russia’s east coast

(Web Desk): A tsunami warning has been issued following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s eastern coast.

According to international media reports, a massive earthquake struck the eastern coastal region of Kamchatka, Russia, registering a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter was located about 136 kilometers east of the city of Petropavlovsk in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, at a depth of 19 kilometers.

According to Russian officials, tsunami waves ranging from 3 to 4 meters were recorded in various parts of Kamchatka following the quake.

There are also reports of some people being injured as a result of the earthquake. In the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, 4-meter-high tsunami waves crashed ashore, damaging buildings and injuring several individuals.

The Governor of Severo-Kurilsk has urged residents to move to higher ground for their safety.

Russian media reported the quake's magnitude as 8.7, calling it the strongest in the Kamchatka region since 1952. A school wall collapsed during the quake, but fortunately, no casualties occurred as the school was unoccupied at the time.

Authorities have warned that aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude could occur within the next month.

Residents of Severo-Kurilsk have been advised to evacuate, and the evacuation process is currently underway.

Due to the threat of possible tsunami waves, a tsunami advisory has been issued for the Pacific Ocean region.

Japan and the Philippines have also issued emergency alerts, while the United States has released tsunami warnings for the states of California, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Additionally, British Columbia has also been placed under a tsunami warning.