A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Sunday, prompting brief tsunami alerts in Russia and Hawaii. The 7.4 magnitude quake was followed by several smaller quakes in the same area, according to the USGS.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a warning for the Pacific region, citing “possible” tsunami waves in Hawaii, Japan, and the Midway Atoll. However, the alert was later canceled by the National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Residents near the earthquake area were warned not to approach the shore to watch the tsunami, but officials assured them that the waves would be relatively small, with a maximum height of 60 cm in some areas. The U.S. Geological Survey reported several notable quakes in the same hour, including a 7.0 magnitude quake and a 6.7 magnitude quake.
State and city officials in Hawaii issued tsunami watches, which were later canceled. The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management advised residents to be prepared for any potential tsunami, but stated that the situation was still being evaluated.
The incident highlights the importance of monitoring seismic activity and issuing timely warnings to protect communities from natural disasters.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/russia-earthquake-usgs-hawaii-issues-tsunami-watch/story?id=123901235