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After the magnitude earthquake, the Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami watch for the West Coast of the United States and an alert for Hawaii and Alaska following a powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake that struck the Russian peninsula of Kamchatka.
Authorities have warned about the possibility of waves up to 9 feet (approximately 2.7 meters) high in some parts of Hawaii and Japan, and have urged the population residing on the western coasts of the U.S. to remain vigilant and follow the instructions of the authorities.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 12 miles (19.3 kilometers). So far, there is no immediate information available from Russia about the impact of the earthquake in Kamchatka.
In Hawaii, the Oahu emergency management agency ordered the evacuation of coastal areas of the island due to the possible arrival of destructive waves up to nine feet in height.
Affected areas by possible tsunamis in Japan
Following the earthquake, the Japanese seismology agency also issued a tsunami alert for Japan. The agency stated that the quake occurred at 8:25 a.m. (local time).
As a consequence of the earthquake, the Japanese meteorological authorities activated a tsunami warning for the Pacific coasts.
Waves are estimated to reach up to one meter in the southern zone of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of the territory and located southwest of the epicenter of the earthquake, as well as in areas of the northeast, east, center, and southwest of the Japanese archipelago.
Likewise, tsunamis of up to 20 centimeters are expected on the island of Shikoku, west of the country, and on the islands that make up the archipelago of Okinawa, to the southwest. Subtle variations in sea level are also expected on other coasts.
Despite its great magnitude, the earthquake was barely perceptible in Japan, reaching level two on the Japanese seven-level seismic scale (which measures surface agitation and the quake’s destructive potential). This was recorded in the cities of Kushiro, Akkeshi, Shibetsu, and Betsukai, located in the far southeast of Hokkaido.
So far, no material or personal damage has been reported.
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