On Tuesday, something very powerful and scary happened deep in the ocean near the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. A huge earthquake shook the sea, and it was measured at magnitude 8.7—that’s super strong!
Because of this, the US Geological Survey (USGS) quickly sent out a tsunami warning. They said the earthquake could create dangerous tsunami waves that might hit the coasts of Russia, Japan, and even Alaska in just a few hours.
A tsunami is a giant wave caused by an earthquake under the sea. These waves move fast and can crash into beaches, towns, and homes—causing big damage.
The earthquake happened about 136 kilometers (or 85 miles) east of a city in Russia called Petropavlovsk, and it was 12 miles deep under the ocean floor.
At first, scientists thought the quake was a magnitude 8.0, but they later realized it was even stronger—8.7. That’s one of the biggest types of earthquakes possible!
Both the United States and Japan told people living near the ocean to get ready. Japan said that tsunami waves could be as tall as one meter (about 3.3 feet) on its Pacific coast. That’s enough to knock people over and flood small buildings near the shore.
In Alaska, a tsunami advisory was also sent out just in case waves reached that far.
The USGS warned everyone in the possible danger zones to:
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Stay away from the beach
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Go to higher ground
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Listen to local government officials
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Be ready for emergency instructions
Authorities in these countries are watching the waves closely. Everyone hopes the tsunami doesn’t get too big, but they’re staying alert and prepared, just in case.
This is a reminder of how powerful nature can be—and how important it is to stay informed when big events like this happen.
