Japan Evacuates 4,000 Fukushima Workers Halts Water Discharge After 8.8 Kamchatka Quake

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, leading to evacuations in Japan, including at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. In response, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) suspended the discharge of treated radioactive water into the sea and evacuated all staff to higher ground as a precaution, though no abnormalities or damage have been reported at the plant. The Fukushima facility, still recovering from the 2011 disaster that caused a nuclear meltdown, remains under close monitoring due to the ongoing presence of radioactive debris cooled by large volumes of water stored in tanks. Over 1.9 million people in Japan were advised to evacuate, with waves up to 1.3 meters recorded and experts warning of potentially higher surges. The earthquake also raised unconfirmed concerns about damage to a Russian submarine base, but no official damage was reported. This event has revived fears reminiscent of the 2011 tragedy, with authorities taking extensive precautionary measures to prevent another nuclear incident.