According to the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the epicenter was located about 150 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the center was at a depth of 18 kilometers, the government of the Sakhalin Region told TASS.
The earthquake caused a tsunami: waves up to 3-4 meters high hit the eastern coast of Kamchatka. According to preliminary data, there are no victims. According to Oleg Melnikov, Minister of Health of the Kamchatka Territory, several people were injured.
According to experts, this earthquake was the most powerful in the region since 1952.
A tsunami warning has been issued for countries in the Pacific region, including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and coastal areas of North America as far south as California.
The American Tsunami Warning Center also announced the likelihood of the wave spreading south to the coast of Ecuador and Chile.
In Japan and Hawaii, authorities have initiated an urgent evacuation of the population from coastal areas. In particular, employees of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was previously affected by the devastating tsunami in 2011, have been evacuated.
