A massive earthquake with a magnitude up to 8.8—the strongest since 1952—struck Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands on July 30. The initial tremors began at 11:30 AM local time, with powerful shocks felt as far as Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Residents report widespread damage to furniture, appliances, and even building alarms.
At Elizovo Airport, six flights were delayed and infrastructure was damaged. Authorities issued a tsunami alert for the Avacha Gulf and Elizovo district, where waves up to 4 meters were observed. Evacuation warnings extended to coastal regions in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Japan. On Kamchatka, a strong aftershock (magnitude 5.8) was recorded soon after.
— Hawaii: Mass evacuations underway; Honolulu’s sirens activated, and roads out of Maui are jammed.
— Japan: Airports closed, bullet train traffic suspended on 41 lines.
— China: Tsunami could reach the coast of Shanghai, Taiwan, and Zhejiang province.
— Latin America: Alerts in Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Chile, and the Galapagos Islands, with reported waves up to 1.4 meters.
— Local Impact: The quake triggered panic, spikes in blood pressure and heart conditions, and even epileptic episodes. Doctors in Kamchatka performed surgery on a patient while the ground was still shaking.
Scientists link the unusual tsunami power to heightened solar activity. Notable people reportedly present in the tsunami zones include Johnny Depp, Matt McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, Clint Eastwood, and business leaders Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.
Authorities are urging residents in at-risk zones to remain alert and follow safety measures as the situation continues to develop.
About the Author
