Earthquake of Magnitude 8.8 Strikes Russia’s Far East: Sixth Biggest Ever Recorded

As per US geological survey, the sixth strongest earthquake ever recorded struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Triggering massive tsunami waves in the Pacific ocean. As per forecast experts, these tsunami waves have the capacity to travel at a speed like a jet plane.

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake happened at a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles), located roughly 125 kilometers (80 miles) to the east-southeast of Petropavlovsk, nestled within Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula.

8.8 Magnitude Earthquake Struck Today in Russia

Tsunami alert already began across the Pacific region including the US West Coast post quake and Japan. People cautioned to stay alert and to stay away from beach. Evacuation process started in coastal regions as waves hit up to 3 to 4 meters in Kamchatka.

What to Do If You’re Under a Tsunami Alert

Time is critical in these kinds of circumstances. If you’re near the coast and alerted about a tsunami warning, don’t wait, move to higher ground without delay.

If reaching higher ground isn’t an option, move to the highest level of the building. Look for designated tsunami evacuation signs that help safely guide you to secure areas.

Caught in the surge? Hold on tightly to something buoyant, like a log, or even a door. It could save your life.

Even if the waters recede, stay away from the coastline until local officials confirm it’s safe. There could be multiple Tsunami waves surges.

What Triggered Earthquake of Magnitude 8.8

The earthquake struck along the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, where the Pacific Plate collides with the Okhotsk Sea Plate, a section often linked to the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate pushed beneath the Okhotsk Plate, releasing massive pressure built up along this volatile subduction zone. This collision triggered the quake in one of the world’s most active seismic regions.

The Impact of Strongest Ever Earthquake

As of now, no damage has been reported, but authorities advised people to stay away from shores as risk could last more than one day. The epi-center is roughly 119 kilometers (74 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a Russian city of 180,000 population, on Kamchatka Peninsula. The ground continued to shake as multiple powerful aftershocks, some reaching 6.9 magnitude.