The earthquake, which occurred at 8:25 local time in Japan, at a depth of 18.2 kilometers below the seabed, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) was the first entity to confirm the earthquake, initially estimating a magnitude of 8, later upgraded to 8.8.
The earthquake's magnitude makes it the sixth most powerful ever recorded in the world. Initial reports from the Kamchatka Peninsula, the area closest to the epicenter, indicated structural damage to buildings. Among the first reports were the partial collapse of a nursery and damage on Paramushir Island, with no reports of serious injuries at the moment. Despite its intensity, the earthquake was barely felt in Japan, where it registered low on the seismic scale.
The seismic shockwave, combined with the high probability of a tsunami, has put several nations on edge, activating emergency protocols and evacuations in over twenty countries in the Pacific Ocean. From Hawaii and Alaska to the coasts of South America and some Southeast Asian nations, authorities have issued warnings and precautions regarding the potential arrival of waves. However, in most cases, moderate heights are expected, but with some potential to generate dangerous currents.
Philippines Cancels Tsunami Alert
Philippine authorities canceled the tsunami alert issued on Wednesday after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the southern coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, which only caused minor disturbances in the country's waters.
The Philippine Seismology Department announced the cancellation of the tsunami warning, which included 22 coastal provinces at risk, including several areas in the densely populated Manila.
"No significant disturbances in sea level or destructive tsunami waves have been recorded since the earthquake," authorities stated, expecting waves of "less than one meter" at various coastal points in the archipelago.
Nine hours after the earthquake, the government agency considered that its effects "have largely passed," thus also canceling the recommendations issued following this event that triggered alerts across the Pacific.
Two Million Evacuated in Japan and Tsunami Alerts Across the Pacific
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of Russia has triggered tsunami alerts across much of the Pacific, especially in Japanese territory, where two million people have been evacuated.
The earthquake occurred at 8:25 in the morning (local Russian time) and led the government to declare a state of emergency in the northern Kuril Islands. "A tsunami threat has been declared, and the strength of the waves is being clarified," explained Vladimir Solodov, governor of Kamchatka.
"I urge everyone not to approach the coast and to follow the announcements through loudspeakers," he warned in a message urging the population to "remain calm to prevent panic." Reported by Europa Press.
How Does a Wave Turn into a Wall of Water?
Jose Benito Bravo Monge, head of the National Geographic Institute's (IGN) area, highlighted how these waves behave in open sea and upon reaching the coast. "In deep ocean waters, tsunami waves are barely noticeable. They may be only a few centimeters high and go unnoticed even by ships. But as they approach the coast, the sea depth decreases, and the waves' speed slows down."
This slowdown causes one wave to catch up with another, piling up like a chain reaction. "They stack on top of each other and gain height. What was an almost invisible wave in open sea can transform into a wall of water several meters high upon reaching land. That's what causes destruction," Bravo explained.
In this context, he emphasized that the danger of a tsunami does not only depend on its magnitude but also on the location where it hits because the real risk is determined by whether it reaches inhabited areas or infrastructure. If it occurs on an uninhabited coast, the impact can be less severe.
"Aftershocks Are Highly Likely"
Following the strong 8.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the Kamchatka Peninsula last night, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) has warned of the possibility of new earthquakes in the area, both as direct aftershocks of the main earthquake and possible new movements associated with the high seismic activity in this region of the planet.
Embassy Urges Spaniards in Japan to Follow Local Instructions
The Spanish Embassy in Japan has urged Spaniards in the country to follow the instructions of local authorities and to check the alerts in their area due to the tsunami warning following the 8.7 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka in the far east of Russia.
Earthquake Does Not Affect Juanma Moreno's Official Trip in Japan
The earthquake in the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula and the tsunami alert have not affected the official trip of the President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, currently in Japan, where he is on his third day of activities.
Sources from the Andalusian delegation confirmed that, "for now," they have not modified the planned agenda, which includes visits and meetings at Jetro, Takahata, Miki Travel, and Hitachi Energy companies.
In addition, the official delegation in Japan was informed by their Japanese counterparts that they are accustomed to living with the risk of earthquakes and tsunamis.
Tsunami Warning Lowered for Hawaii
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lowered the tsunami risk warning level for Hawaii on Wednesday following the earthquake in Russia, local authorities reported. They warned that there could still be strong currents and waves near the coast and in ports. Reported by AFP.
Seismic Waves from the Earthquake Take 15 Minutes to Reach Spain
The seismic waves generated by the earthquake in the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula took just 15 minutes to reach Spain, according to data collected and published on their official channels by the Institute of Geosciences (IGEO).
The institute also took advantage of the strong earthquake and subsequent tsunami to revisit some of its recent entries on these types of phenomena, "so destructive but not so uncommon," and on the causes that usually trigger them, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, or even the impact of extraterrestrial bodies.
In one of these entries, the Institute clarifies that from the generation of a tsunami to the waves reaching the coast, they do not maintain the same height; in fact, a person could be at sea and have one pass underneath without even realizing it.
Thus, according to the explanations of this research center, in deep sea, where the depth is high, a tsunami has a very low wave height but a long wavelength (kilometers); however, when the depth decreases at the coast, the wave height increases, and the wavelength decreases. Reported by Efe.
Tsunami Alert in French Polynesia After the Earthquake in Russia
Local authorities in French Polynesia have issued a tsunami alert for the Marquesas Islands archipelago. Waves between 1.10 and 2.20 meters are expected to hit Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva, and Hiva Oa islands during Tuesday night to Wednesday.
Residents have been urged to move to higher ground and follow official instructions, including securing boats or moving them away from the coast. Other archipelagos in French Polynesia could be affected by waves less than 30 cm high, which do not require evacuation or shelter, according to local authorities.
Assessment of Damage in Kamchatka to Be Completed in a Week
The damage caused by Wednesday's earthquake in the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula, the strongest in the last 73 years, will be assessed within a week, as confirmed by the region's governor, Vladimir Solodov.
Solodov also assured that all residential buildings with reports of partial damage will be inspected.