Kamchatka Quake and Tsunami Trigger Widespread Alerts

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka coast triggered tsunami warnings spanning from French Polynesia to Chile. Damage occurred in Kamchatka, prompting evacuations in Japan and Hawaii.

The shallow quake, the most powerful since 1952, sparked fears across the Pacific. Despite downgrading some warnings, authorities in French Polynesia urged residents of the Marquesas Islands to brace for waves up to 2.5 meters.

Russia's Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted following the quake, compounding the unrest. Meanwhile, tsunami waves impacted Hawaii, Japan, and as far away as California. The Kamchatka region, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, remains susceptible to further seismic activity.

(With inputs from agencies.)