An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East early Wednesday morning, triggering alarms of a tsunami and forcing the evacuation of residents.

Why it matters:

This earthquake is considered one of the strongest in Kamchatka's history and could have widespread repercussions on the Pacific coast and neighboring countries.

The big picture:

The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world. On July 20, it experienced a 7.4-magnitude earthquake, followed by aftershocks. The new earthquake occurred at a depth of 19.3 kilometers, 136 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Key Points:

  • In Japan, authorities evacuated the Fukushima nuclear plant fearing a tsunami, while the first waves, up to 30 centimeters high, reached Hokkaido.
  • Japanese authorities warned that tsunami waves up to 3 meters high could hit the Pacific coast of the archipelago.
  • The United States issued warnings for the western coast and urged residents of Hawaii to evacuate coastal areas.
  • Warnings also apply to other countries, such as Mexico and the Philippines, where residents have been advised to stay away from beaches.                                  

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Zohre Khazaee - Mojtaba Darabi