The earthquake is among the 10 most powerful ever recorded, according to the USGS. According to the American Institute of Geophysics, waves measuring up to 3 meters are possible in Japan, Russia, Ecuador and Hawaii in the coming hours.
A tsunami alert was issued by the American authorities after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Russian coast of the Kamthatka peninsula, around 11:25 pm GMT Tuesday, July 29, according to the American Geophysics Institute (USGS). A power that immediately classified it among the 10 most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The earthquake occurred 19.3 kilometers deep, about 136 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, capital of the Kamthatka region. He would have at least injured, according to the authorities. On July 20, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, followed by many replicas, took place in the same area, without doing major damage.
The governor of Kamchatka urged the population to “Stay far from the coast”. A tsunami 3 meters high could reach the coasts of Japan, warned the Japanese authorities, who have issued evacuations for millions of people living in coastal areas. “Tsunamis will occur repeatedly. Do not venture at sea and do not approach the coast as long as the alert is not lifted ”warned the meteorological authority. The tsunami could strike between 01:00 and 02:30 GMT the peaceful coast of the archipelago, said the Japanese meteorological agency (JMA).
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“You are in danger!”
The American authorities alert on a risk of waves more than 3 meters high on certain parts of the coasts of Russia and the Hawaii archipelago. All of the American coasts on the Pacific, from Alaska to California via Oregon and Washington condition, are affected by various alert levels. Waves between 1 and 3 meters high could also touch the American islands of Guam and Hawaii, specifies the American Center for Tsunami. Hawaii residents have received level alerts “extreme” : “You are in danger!” Move on the heights or inside the land now! ”is it written. Residents are asked to take shelter “At least on the 4th floor in buildings of at least 10 floors”.
Waves of more than 3 meters are also possible on the coast of the Ecuador.
On July 20, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, followed by many replicas, took place in the same area, without doing major damage. The Kamthatka peninsula is the meeting point between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, which makes the region one of the most active seismic areas on the planet. The Russian Peninsula, which separates the sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, is “One of the regions most exposed to earthquakes in the world”according to the American geophysics service.
