Daijiworld Media Network - Moscow

Moscow, Jul 30: A powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake shook the Pacific Ocean early Wednesday, setting off a tsunami that struck the northern Kuril Islands and forced the evacuation of thousands from Russia’s Far Eastern town of Severo-Kurilsk.

The epicenter was located about 119 kilometers (74 miles) from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, home to roughly 180,000 people. The quake triggered immediate tsunami warnings across several nations and prompted swift evacuation orders in vulnerable coastal zones.

Tsunami waves measuring between 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) were recorded along the Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting regional authorities to act quickly. More than 2,500 residents were moved to higher ground in Severo-Kurilsk as a safety precaution, according to Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko.

“Emergency teams are in high-alert mode, and residents will remain on elevated ground until the tsunami threat is completely over,” Limarenko told local media.

Footage broadcast by regional outlets captured the urgency of the evacuation: sirens echoed through the town as waves surged inland. Emergency workers guided families to safety while drone images revealed widespread flooding across coastal zones.

One major facility, the Alaid fish processing plant in Severo-Kurilsk, was submerged under water, though all employees were successfully evacuated in time.

Although some structural damage was reported, local officials said there were no initial reports of fatalities or serious injuries.

Elena Semenova, head of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk seismic station, confirmed that a tsunami alert was issued for the entire Kuril Islands chain. Authorities across the region continue to monitor the shoreline and carry out precautionary evacuations in smaller coastal settlements.

Emergency services remain on high alert as assessments continue and safety operations are underway.