A very strong earthquake, measuring 8.8 in magnitude, off the coast of Kamchatka in Russia's Far East has triggered a tsunami warning, with waves up to 4 meters high expected on the coasts of Russia, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, Ecuador, and the United States, from Washington State to California.

The epicenter was located approximately 136 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk, at a depth of 19 kilometers.

8:30 a.m. – The sea threatens Hawaii

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reports that waves have reached the Hawaiian Islands. Tsunami waves are "now impacting Hawaii," the Center says in an update, as reported by the BBC. "Urgent action is needed to protect lives and property," the Center adds, warning that the danger could persist for hours.

8.25am – First waves in Alaska

The first waves of the tsunami triggered by the magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Kamchatka have struck Alaska. The rest of the western United States is preparing for the impact of the waves expected in the coming hours. The state of Hawaii, parts of Alaska's Aleutian Islands, and parts of Northern California are currently under maximum tsunami warnings, while a tsunami warning is in effect for the rest of the West Coast.

7:25 a.m. – Kuril Islands evacuated

The mayor of the Russian district of the Northern Kuril Islands announced that all residents had been evacuated following the tsunami, which caused flooding and swept away buildings. "Everyone was evacuated. There was enough time, a full hour. So everyone was evacuated, all the people are in the safety zone," Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov said during a crisis meeting with officials. The Kurils form an archipelago of 56 islands located between the northeastern tip of the Japanese island of Hokkaido and the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula.

In Russia

In Kamchatka, the quake caused "numerous injuries," local authorities reported. "I urge everyone to stay away from the coast in tsunami-prone areas and listen to loudspeaker announcements," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov wrote on Telegram. The port of Severo-Kurilsk was flooded by the wave, Russian authorities reported. A fishing vessel was also damaged.

In Japan

The tsunami warning has affected the entire eastern part of Japan, including workers dismantling the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the northwestern Tohoku region. The announcement was made by the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), which has not yet reported any anomalies at the site, the site of the nuclear accident in March 2011.

Trump's warning

"Due to a powerful earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, a tsunami warning is in effect for residents of Hawaii. A tsunami warning is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific coast of the United States. A tsunami is also approaching in Japan. Visit tsunami.gov/ for the latest information. Stay strong and stay safe," Donald Trump wrote on his social media account, Truth Social.

The emergency in China

China's Ministry of Natural Resources has also decided to issue a yellow-level alert following the powerful earthquake. Beijing state media reported that the measure affects the country's eastern coast.

- News update -

(Unioneonline)

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