One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia’s sparsely populated Far East on Wednesday, causing tsunamis up to four metres high across the Pacific.
More than 50 aftershocks were recorded in the Kamchatka region. Several people were injured in Russia by the quake, but none seriously, Russian state media TASS reported.
“Wednesday’s earthquake was severe and the strongest in recent decades,” Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video on Telegram.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck at a depth of 19.3 kilometres. The USGS reported the quake at magnitude 8.8, the strongest recorded in the Kamchatka region since 1952.
CNN revealed that nearly two million people had been evacuated near Tokyo, many fled by car or on foot to seek higher ground. Tsunami alerts were also issued for the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Ecuador.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers also issued warnings for parts of Alaska and Hawaii. The governor of the latter state declared a state of emergency.
President Donald Trump also urged U.S. residents to be aware of tsunami warnings. “Stay strong and stay safe,” he said on X.
