Seismic Shockwaves: Massive 8.7 Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Alerts Across Pacific

An 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, prompting tsunami alerts across the Pacific, including Japan, Alaska, and Hawaii. Regions close to the epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula reported significant damage and evacuations.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that waves of 1 to 3 meters above tide level were possible in Hawaii, Chile, Japan, and the Solomon Islands, with even higher waves expected in Russia and Ecuador. Japanese authorities quickly issued a tsunami alert, estimating waves up to 3 meters could impact the northern Japanese coastline shortly.

In Russia, the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky saw residents evacuate hastily as power outages and communication failures were reported. Further, tsunami warnings extended to Alaska, the West Coast of the United States, and the Hawaiian islands, urging immediate precautions to safeguard lives and property.

(With inputs from agencies.)