FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE— Tsunami waves reached the shores of Hawaii and California early Wednesday following a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting widespread evacuations across the Pacific region.
The quake struck at 11:25 a.m. local time near the eastern coast of Russia, triggering emergency alerts in Japan, Russia, and parts of the U.S. West Coast. Authorities in Japan ordered 1.9 million residents to evacuate after a 4.3-foot (1.3-meter) wave hit the northern Iwate prefecture, according to the national weather agency.
Officials say the earthquake ranks among the most powerful ever recorded.
Evacuation orders remain in effect as emergency crews monitor wave activity and assess potential damage.