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.
Epicenter: ~120 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Depth: ~20 km
Tsunami: Waves up to 4 meters in Kamchatka and smaller waves in Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast
Damage: Some buildings damaged, power outages, and minor injuries in Russia
Evacuations: Issued in Russia, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and other coastal areas
Aftershocks: Several strong ones followed; more expected
This event highlights the global tsunami risk and the importance of early warnings.
