Sixth-Largest Earthquake on Record Triggers Global Tsunami Warnings

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Russia’s eastern peninsula has triggered tsunami warnings in Russia, Japan, and parts of the U.S.

The quake, which struck the Kamchatka Peninsula around 8:25 a.m. local time Wednesday (4:25 p.m. ET, Tuesday), was initially reported at a magnitude of 8.0 but upgraded to 8.8, making it the joint-sixth strongest ever recorded on Earth (tied with the 2010 earthquake in Biobío, Chile, and 1906 earthquake in Esmeraldas, Ecuador). The Kamchatka Krai earthquake was centered 74 mi (119 km) east-southeast of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 165,000, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and it left several people injured, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

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A tsunami with waves of 10-13 ft (3-4 m) hit Severo-Kurilsk in Russia’s far east coast after the quake, flooding the port town, which has a population of around 2,000 people, according to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry. The ministry said the town has been evacuated. Russia’s Geophysical Service also warned that aftershocks of up to M7.5 could last up to a month. Already over a dozen smaller quakes have hit the region  in the last several hours since the quake.

“Today’s earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,” Kamchatka Gov. Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on Telegram. The Kuril-Kamchatka arc experiences frequent earthquakes, according to the USGS, including a M7.4 earthquake on July 20 that is now seen as a foreshock of Wednesday’s quake. The fifth strongest quake on Earth also hit Kamchatka in 1952, with a magnitude of 9.0.

Several countries around the world, including Japan and the U.S., have issued tsunami warnings and placed areas on tsunami watch following the quake. To view the latest tsunami advisories, visit tsunami.gov.

Tsunami alerts come in four levels, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. A tsunami warning is the highest alert, followed by a tsunami advisory, a tsunami watch, and a tsunami information statement.

“STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social.

Here’s what we know so far.

Japan hit by 12-inch waves, Fukushima evacuated

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a country-wide tsunami warning at 9:40 a.m. local time (upgraded from an earlier tsunami advisory) and has urged people in coastal areas to evacuate immediately. People should move to the highest ground possible and should not stop or return to coastal areas, the agency warned.

The agency forecasted a tsunami height of three meters but said the tsunami may exceed that height and may involve multiple waves for an extended period which can suddenly increase in height.

Coastal towns in Hokkaido, Japan, recorded 12-in (30-cm) waves around 10:46 a.m. local time, according to broadcaster NHK, while a 16-in (40-cm) tsunami hit Tokachi port in Hokkaido. Erimo town, Hanasaki port, Hamanaka town, and Kushiro port in southeastern and eastern Hokkaido were among those to be hit with tsunami waves as of 1 p.m. local time (12 a.m. ET).

Japan’s Tohoku and Kanto regions also observed waves of 8 inches (20cm) to 16 inches (40cm) high.

Workers at northeast Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant have been evacuated. The plant suffered a meltdown in 2011 following a M9.0 earthquake off the coast of northeastern Japan and massive tsunami, which led to the country’s worst nuclear accident and the world’s second worst in recorded history.

Read More: A Manga Is Causing Earthquake Panic in Japan

Hawaii issues warnings; U.S. West Coast, Alaska on tsunami watch

Tsunami sirens sounded across all of Hawaii’s islands, with the first wave impact expected at 7:10 p.m. local time (1:10 a.m. ET), according to the state’s Emergency Management Agency.

“URGENT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY,” the agency warned in multiple alerts.

“God willing, these waves will not hurt us, but you have to assume—assume that they will be life threatening,” said Gov. Josh Green during a press conference. He advised residents to evacuate from coastal zones and inundation areas, to stay away from beaches and harbors, and to go to high ground such as the fourth floor or higher of buildings. “You have to expect that there will be flooding on all the islands, and it will be imminent after the wave hits. You should be safe and therefore not sorry.”

The National Tsunami Warning Center also issued tsunami advisories for parts of Alaska and the entire West Coast, including California, Oregon, Washington, as well as Canada’s British Columbia. The Alaskan Aleutian island of Shemya could see tsunami activity beginning at 4:40 p.m. local time (8:40 p.m. ET), while Kodiak is forecast to see waves starting at 8:20 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service. Langara and Tofino in British Columbia could see waves by around 10:05 p.m. local time (1:05 a.m. ET), while potential tsunami activity could reach parts of Washington, Oregon and California, starting after 11 p.m. local time (2 a.m. ET).

“Areas in the advisory should not expect widespread inundation,” the NWS said, adding that people should move away from beaches, harbors, and marinas. “Do not go to the coast to watch,” NWS Los Angeles warned.

Pacific Islands, Philippines, others issue warnings and alerts

A tsunami alert has been issued for the Pacific Islands, including the Northern Mariana islands of Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, according to the USGS.

Pacific coastal areas of the Philippines could see tsunami waves of up to 3 ft (1 m) high with the first waves expected between 1:20 to 2:30 p.m. local time (1:20 to 2:30 a.m. ET), the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned. The affected regions include: Albay province, Aurora province, the Batanes islands, Cagayan province, Camarines Norte province, Camarines Sur province, Catanduanes Island, Davao del Norte province, Davao del Sur province, Davao de Oro province, Davao Occidental province, Davao Oriental province, the Dinagat islands, Eastern Samar province, Isabela province, Leyte Island, Northern Samar province, Quezon province, Sorsogan province, Southern Leyte province, Surigao del Norte province, and Surigao del Sur province.

Taiwan has issued a tsunami warning, forecasting waves as high as 3 ft (1 m) hitting the country’s southeastern coastal areas by 1:19 p.m. local time (1:19 a.m. ET) and southwestern coast by 1:31 p.m.

Indonesia has also issued a warning for tsunami waves of less than 1.6 ft (0.5 m) that could reach coastal areas in Papua, North Maluku province and Gorontalo province, according to the country’s geophysics agency.

The Mexican Navy has warned people to avoid Pacific beaches and said strong currents are expected at port entrances from Baja California to Chiapas.