Tsunami Warnings Issued after Magnitude-8.7 Earthquake Strikes off Russian Coast
Tsunami warnings and advisories were issues around the Pacific Ocean after a magnitude-8.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia, the largest earthquake since the 2011 Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami
A photo from March 2022 shows an aerial view of South Kuril Islands and coastline in Kamchatka region, Russia.
Natalia Zakharova/Anadolu via Getty Images
Tsunami warnings were issued around the Pacific Ocean after a magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the late morning local time on July 30. Waves 5.7 feet above normal reached Hawaii, flooding parking lots and streets, and 3.6 feet of water was measured in Crescent City, Calif., according to The New York Times.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System has transitioned coastal areas from Hawaii to Alaska to the mainland Pacific Coast to a Tsunami Advisory, which means “a tsunami with the potential to generate strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is imminent, expected, or occurring” but there is not a significant inundation expected. Under an advisory, people should stay out of the water and away from beaches and coastal waterways. But officials cautioned that the first waves to arrive may not be the largest and that there is still risk over the next 24 hours. Surge of some 3 to 10 feet could still hit areas including the coast of South America.
READ MORE: How Does an Earthquake Trigger Tsunamis Thousands of Kilometers Away?
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The earthquake may be the eighth largest on record globally, seismologist Alice-Agnes Gabriel of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, wrote on Bluesky. It is likely the largest since the 2011 earthquake off the coast of Japan, which triggered a devastating tsunami that killed thousands and caused the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The magnitude was upgraded from 8.7; an 8.8 earthquake releases about 40 percent more energy than an 8.7.
Evacuations were initially ordered in Japan and Hawaii after the July 30 earthquake. The first waves had begun to hit Japan around 10 a.m. local time, several hours after…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Scientific American Content: Global…