The first tsunami waves have already struck Alaska, Japan, and Russia following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Pacific. The world’s largest in 14 years, the earthquake has also prompted warnings and evacuations across the region.
Damage was reported in eastern Russia, where tremors shook buildings and damaged a local kindergarten. The port town of Severo-Kurilsk was flooded as well. No injuries have been reported so far, but a state of emergency has been declared in the Kuril Islands.
The tsunami was expected to hit Hawaii at 7:17 p.m. local time, but nothing has been reported yet. Water was seen receding into the sea on webcams at approximately 7:30 p.m., suggesting that waves are soon to arrive. Netizens report a buzz on the Hawaii coast, with one user describing “a lot of people” on their balconies “hooting and cheering in anticipation.”
