A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, generating tsunami waves up to 5 metres high and prompting widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific region. The quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 19.3 km near the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, caused structural damage, minor injuries, and flooding in parts of Kamchatka, while triggering emergency alerts in countries as far as Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast. Russian scientists confirmed it was the strongest quake in the region since 1952.

The seismic event led to a swift response across the Pacific, with tsunami warnings issued for Japan, Hawaii, Chile, Ecuador, and the Solomon Islands. In Hawaii, residents were urged to move to higher ground or upper floors, and the U.S. Coast Guard ordered vessels out of harbours. Waves reaching up to 1.7 metres impacted the Hawaiian Islands, prompting the cancellation of flights in and out of Maui. Meanwhile, in Japan, authorities evacuated coastal towns, and workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant were temporarily relocated as a precaution.

On the Kamchatka Peninsula, waves caused flooding in the port area and a fish processing facility in Severo-Kurilsk, where multiple tsunami waves swept through. Local officials reported power outages and damaged buildings, including a kindergarten. Emergency services confirmed several people sought medical assistance, but no major casualties were reported. In Japan’s Mie Prefecture, a woman died after her car fell from a cliff while she was evacuating. Officials also reported tsunami waves up to 1.3 metres along the Japanese coast.

The earthquake occurred along the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire," known for frequent and intense tectonic activity. Despite the high magnitude, experts noted that due to the nature of the epicentre, the ground shaking was less intense than expected. Aftershocks up to 6.9 magnitude continued to rattle the region, but scientists assured that no stronger tremors were likely in the near term. Authorities across the Pacific remain on high alert as they monitor the situation and assess damage.