Powerful 8.8-Magnitude Quake Strikes Russia’s Far East, Triggers Tsunami and Minor Injuries

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Far East coast on Wednesday, triggering tsunami waves that flooded a fishing port, cut power to some areas, and caused several injuries, though no major damage was reported.

The quake, which hit at 11:24 a.m. local time (2324 GMT Tuesday, 7:24 p.m. EDT Tuesday), was centered about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of about 21 kilometers (13 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed by multiple aftershocks, some as strong as 6.9 in magnitude.

Regional authorities in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands introduced a state of emergency but said they had long prepared for such a scenario and moved swiftly to safeguard residents. The epicenter was located near the geologically volatile Kamchatka Peninsula, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, known for its 300 volcanoes, including 29 still active.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the peninsula’s capital city of 162,000 residents, was shielded from larger tsunami waves due to its location on Avacha Bay. Emergency workers evacuated around 60 tourists from a beach on the Pacific side.

The Russian Oceanology Institute reported that tsunami waves may have reached heights of 10 to 15 meters (30 to 50 feet) in some coastal areas. Near populated regions of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, the largest waves measured under 6 meters (approximately 19.5 feet).

In Severo-Kurilsk, the main city in the Kuril Islands, tsunami waves flooded the fishing port, inundated a fish factory, and swept fishing boats out to sea. Power was knocked out by the flooding, and damage assessments were ongoing, according to local officials. Authorities evacuated residents to safer inland areas.

Tourists sailing in the Sea of Okhotsk near Antsiferov Island reported observing a group of sea lions leaping from a rocky outcropping and swimming away as the quake hit. Tour organizer Alexander Bogoslovskiy said the sea lions appeared “very scared,” but all tourists were unharmed.

Regional health department chief Oleg Melnikov stated that a few people sustained injuries during evacuations, including one hospital patient who jumped from a window. All injured individuals were reported to be in satisfactory condition.

Russian media showed video footage of doctors at a Kamchatka hospital steadying a patient and medical equipment during an operation as the operating room swayed. A kindergarten in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky suffered damage but was unoccupied due to ongoing renovations. Municipal teams inspected about 600 apartment buildings and confirmed that no evacuations were necessary.

Observers also reported explosions and lava flow on the slopes of Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Kamchatka’s tallest and the Northern Hemisphere’s largest active volcano, which last erupted in 2023.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the timely warning system, noting that evacuations were efficiently executed and infrastructure remained intact despite the powerful shocks.

The earthquake is one of the strongest globally since the 9.1-magnitude quake off Japan’s northeast coast in March 2011 that caused a devastating tsunami. Only a few stronger earthquakes have ever been recorded.