Massive earthquake near Kamchatka's Russian coast: Waves reaching up to 4 meters high activate all tsunami warning systems

In a series of events that have sent shockwaves around the world, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake occurred on the coast of Kamchatka, Russia, on [insert date]. This earthquake, the most powerful in Russia's Far East since 1952, has triggered tsunami alerts in various Pacific regions.

The first waves after the earthquake, up to 40 centimeters high, have already reached Hanasaki, Nemuro (Hokkaido) around 10:30 local time. In Japan, waves of up to 3 meters are expected in some regions, leading to the evacuation of nearly two million people from their coastal homes. The Japanese authorities have raised the tsunami alert to the maximum level and ordered evacuations in extensive coastal areas of the Pacific.

Trains have been suspended on 41 lines and Sendai airport has been closed as a preventive measure. Several train lines such as the Keikyu and some of Japan Railways have experienced suspensions or delays, particularly in coastal areas. The most affected have been the Shonan-Shinjuku and Tokaido lines between Tokyo and Atami.

The China Earthquake Administration has warned of possible waves up to 40 cm on the north coast of Zhejiang and 30 cm in Shanghai between 17:00 and 20:00 local time. The Filipino and Taiwanese authorities have also alerted about waves of less than a meter following the earthquake off Kamchatka.

The Pacific coast of Latin America, including points such as Ensenada, Mazatlán, Acapulco, and Puerto Madero, as well as the coasts of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, are on alert. The Mexican Navy's Tsunami Warning Center (Semar) has issued a warning for the Pacific coasts of Mexico.

In Ecuador, the preventive evacuation of the Galapagos coast and the immediate suspension of maritime activities have been ordered. Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of coastal areas due to the threat. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has extended the alert to parts of Alaska and put the rest of the U.S. West Coast on watch, including California, Oregon, and Washington.

The Peruvian Navy's Hydrography and Navigation Directorate has put the entire coastal strip of Peru on alert, but the approximate hours when the waves could arrive in Peru have not been specified. In the Philippines, the population of more than 20 provinces has been advised to stay away from the coast and move to inland areas.

The Japan Meteorological Agency identified coastal areas around the Kamchatka Peninsula and parts of the wider Pacific region, including Russia's Far East and as far as Hawaii, as potentially affected by the tsunami following the Kamchatka earthquake. They advised slight changes in sea levels but indicated minimal likelihood of significant damage.

However, the authorities of all affected countries are on maximum alert, as more aftershocks are expected and could exacerbate the situation and even expand the tsunami threat to other areas. Calm is urged, but at the same time, evacuation of coastal areas is required to avoid major disasters and loss of life.

In Urakawa, Japan, a maximum-level (5 out of 5) evacuation order was issued for 10,463 citizens, and emergency sirens are sounding. Over 2,700 people, including 600 children, were evacuated in the Kuril Islands archipelago. The government spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, has stated that "the Cabinet has activated a special team to monitor the situation and minimize the damage that the tsunami could cause due to the earthquake".

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 19.3 kilometers and was located approximately 136 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of the Kamchatka region. More than 30 aftershocks of between 2 and 5 magnitude were recorded in the Kamchatka peninsula.

As the situation continues to unfold, it is crucial for everyone to stay informed, heed the warnings, and prioritise safety.

Massive earthquake near Kamchatka's Russian coast: Waves reaching up to 4 meters high activate all tsunami warning systems