A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia, early on July 30. It’s the strongest quake there since 1952 and one of the most powerful ever recorded.
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Epicenter: ~120 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
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Depth: ~20 km
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Tsunami: Waves up to 4 meters in Kamchatka and smaller waves in Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast
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Damage: Some buildings damaged, power outages, and minor injuries in Russia
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Evacuations: Issued in Russia, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and other coastal areas
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Aftershocks: Several strong ones followed; more expected
This event highlights the global tsunami risk and the importance of early warnings.