Magnitude 8.7 earthquake off Russia prompts tsunami warnings in Alaska, Hawaii and advisories for West Coast states
A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia on Tuesday, prompting tsunami warnings in Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of the West Coast. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake occurred approximately 85 miles from Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, at a depth of nearly 12 miles. The agency subsequently upgraded the earthquake’s magnitude from initial reports of 8.0 and 8.7.
Magnitude 6.3 and 6.9 aftershocks were reported in the vicinity, according to USGS.
A tsunami warning has been issued for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and Hawaii. Meanwhile, California, Oregon, and Washington are under a tsunami advisory as the situation is assessed. The U.S. territories of Guam and American Samoa are also facing advisories from USGS.
