TOKYO, July 30: An 8.7-magnitude undersea earthquake struck Russia’s Far East early Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and as far as Chile and Ecuador. The tremor, among the strongest recorded in the region in recent years, caused widespread alarm and prompted emergency responses across affected territories.

The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that the first tsunami wave, measuring around 30 centimeters, reached Nemuro on Hokkaido’s eastern coast. In Russia, the initial wave struck Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement in the Kuril Islands, where residents were moved to higher ground. Local governor Valery Limarenko assured the public that people were safe and would remain evacuated until authorities ruled out further threats.

In Hawaii, tsunami warning sirens blared across Honolulu on Tuesday night, urging residents to seek higher ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of potential waves ranging from 1 to 3 meters above tide levels in parts of Hawaii, Chile, Japan, and the Solomon Islands. More than 3-meter waves were forecast for some coastal zones of Russia and Ecuador.

Russia’s state news agency, Tass, reported scenes of panic in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the largest city near the quake’s epicenter. Residents reportedly fled into the streets without shoes or warm clothing as buildings trembled, furniture toppled, and balconies swayed. The region also experienced power outages and mobile service disruptions, and evacuations were ordered on Sakhalin Island, where emergency services are operating at full capacity.

The National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Aleutian Islands, while placing coastal regions including California, Oregon, Washington, and the entire Hawaiian archipelago under watch. Large stretches of Alaska’s coastline, including parts of the panhandle, were also included in the advisory.

This seismic event follows a series of five strong earthquakes earlier in July in the sea off Kamchatka, the largest being a magnitude 7.4. That quake occurred at a depth of 20 kilometers and 144 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Historically, the Kamchatka region is known for powerful seismic activity. On November 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck the same region, generating 30-foot (9.1-meter) waves in Hawaii, though it caused no reported fatalities.