Pacific Tsunami Alerts After Russia Quake

A massive earthquake, initially measured at magnitude 8.0 and later revised to 8.7 or 8.8, struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula at a shallow depth of 19–21 km, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific. Tsunami waves up to 4 meters hit Kamchatka, causing damage including to a kindergarten and prompting evacuations in settlements such as Severo-Kurilsk, though no casualties have been confirmed. Japan issued upgraded tsunami alerts for waves up to 3 meters along its Pacific coast, while Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington were placed on high alert with evacuation orders and preparations in Honolulu. The quake was also felt in Hokkaido, Japan, and led to panic and minor injuries in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Alerts and warnings extended as far as Chile, Ecuador, Guam, Micronesia, and New Zealand, with authorities warning of hazardous currents and unpredictable surges. Officials across the Pacific urged prompt evacuation and vigilance as aftershocks and further waves remained possible.