On July 30, a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. Several buildings were damaged and people injured, while evacuations were announced in Japan.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov called it "the strongest in recent decades." According to local officials, 3–4 metre tsunami waves were recorded along the Kamchatka coast. Warnings were sent to other Pacific countries.
Tsunami alerts were issued for coastal areas of Japan. People in some cities were moved to higher ground. The Fukushima nuclear power plant, which caused major concern after the 2011 disaster, was also evacuated, though no major damage or radiation leaks have been reported so far.
Emergency measures were taken along Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific coast as well. U.S. President Donald Trump urged the public to "prepare for dangerous tsunami waves."
According to Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Situations, waves flooded some ports and factories in Kamchatka, and a kindergarten was damaged, though there were no mass casualties. Local health officials said several people sought medical help.
The Kamchatka region is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where strong quakes and volcanic eruptions are common. Russia’s Academy of Sciences called it the strongest quake since 1952.
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