Russia earthquake triggers tsunami warning: Which countries and islands could be at risk?
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, generating a tsunami impacting parts of Russia and Japan. The US Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for numerous countries, including Hawaii, with predicted wave heights varying from under a meter to over three meters. Warnings emphasise the dangers of strong currents and surges, advising coastal residents to evacuate beaches and waterways. Multiple nations are actively monitoring the situation and issuing updates.
New Delhi: Several countries are staring at a tsunami threat after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on early Wednesday morning. Tsunami waves have already hit parts of Kuril Islands in Russia and Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.
The US tsunami warning system has listed several countries and islands that could be hit by tsunami waves. Tsunami waves over 3 meters high are possible in Ecuador, Russia, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Tsunami waves between 1 and 3 meters high are possible in Chile, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kiribati, Midway Island, Palmyra Island, Peru, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands.
Tsunami waves between 0.3 and 1 meter high are likely in Antarctica, Australia, Chuuk, Colombia, the Cook Islands, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Howland and Baker Islands, Indonesia, the Kermadec Islands, Kosrae, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Pitcairn Islands, Pohnpei, Taiwan, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wake Island, Wallis and Futuna, American Samoa, and Yap.
Tsunami waves less than 0.3 meters high could hit Brunei, China, North Korea, Malaysia, South Korea, and Vietnam.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency has upgraded its earlier advisory to a tsunami alert. It has warned that waves up to 3 meters high could hit the country’s Pacific coast, possibly reaching northern coastal areas.
In Russia, tsunami waves measuring 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) were reported in parts of Kamchatka, Sergei Lebedev, the regional minister for emergency situations, said.
A tsunami alert was also issued for Hawaii, with the US National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stating that a tsunami had been generated that "could cause damage along the coastlines of all the Hawaiian islands”.
New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has also sounded a warning for strong and unpredictable sea currents and surges along the coast.
"Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore,” NEMA said. "People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.”