The quake, one of the strongest recorded this century, prompted action from Japan to Hawaii as authorities braced for potentially destructive waves. Initial assessments from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) placed the quake's epicenter about 85 miles off Kamchatka's east coast at a depth of nearly 12 miles.
Russian emergency services reported intense shaking that was initially recorded as a magnitude 7.5 tremor, with the USGS upping the measurement to 8.8. This quake rattled buildings, knocked furniture over and triggered car alarms in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
A kindergarten building suffered structural damage, though no injuries were reported. Authorities issued an "absolute tsunami alert" for Avacha Bay, urging residents to move inland immediately.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center swiftly expanded alerts, placing Hawaii under an "urgent action" warning and advising evacuations in low-lying areas. "It is not just a three-foot wave, it is a forceful wall of water," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green warned, referencing potential infrastructure damage...<<<Read More>>>...
