When the Earth Trembled and Buildings Swayed – Terrifying Moments Caught on Camera

International News: A major earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 hit the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia on Wednesday. It was so powerful that tsunami warnings have been issued for nearby coastal regions in the Pacific Ocean.

Shaking Felt Across the Region

The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of just 19.3 km, which means its shaking was strongly felt. The earthquake's epicenter was located near Avacha Bay, approximately 125 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk in Kamchatka. People shared videos online showing buildings shaking and alarms going off.

In some homes, furniture was seen shaking heavily, and in offices, employees could be seen rushing out as sirens went off. Thankfully, no deaths or serious injuries have been reported yet.

Schools and Towns Affected

According to Governor Vladimir Solodov, this was one of the strongest earthquakes in decades for the region. One kindergarten building suffered damage, but children were safe. Emergency teams are checking buildings for structural damage.

In Severo-Kurilsk, a small coastal town in southern Kamchatka, residents were evacuated as a safety measure in case tsunami waves strike. The local emergency agency reported waves as high as 32 cm had already reached the shore.

Warnings Extended to Japan and U.S. Territories

The Japan Meteorological Agency has also issued tsunami warnings. They expect waves up to 3 meters high to reach parts of the Japanese coastline between 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM local time. Alerts have been issued advising residents in low-lying areas to evacuate to higher ground.

At the same time, the United States has issued tsunami advisories for Alaska and put Guam and Micronesia under a tsunami watch. The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center said dangerous waves could reach several parts of the Pacific within three hours of the earthquake.

Why Kamchatka Faces Frequent Quakes

Kamchatka is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent and intense earthquakes. This area regularly experiences strong tremors and volcanic eruptions. Governments and disaster teams in affected countries are now on high alert and monitoring the sea level for further activity.