A powerful earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale rocked Russia's Far East, sending shockwaves through the region and prompting urgent tsunami warnings.
Panic as Tremors Felt Across Coastal Regions
Residents reported violent shaking that lasted several minutes, with terrified locals fleeing buildings as glass shattered and furniture toppled. Security cameras captured the terrifying moment the quake struck, showing entire rooms swaying violently.
Tsunami Alert for Pacific Coast
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake's epicentre was near the Kuril Islands, approximately 1,500 km northeast of Japan. Authorities immediately issued tsunami warnings for:
- Russia's Sakhalin region
- The Kuril Islands
- Parts of Japan's northern coastline
Emergency services were placed on high alert as coastal residents were urged to move to higher ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned that dangerous waves were possible within 300 km of the epicentre.
Region's Seismic History
The affected area lies along the volatile "Ring of Fire", where about 90% of the world's earthquakes occur. This marks the strongest tremor to hit the region since 2015, when a 7.8 magnitude quake caused significant damage.
Seismologists warn that aftershocks could continue for days, with the potential for further tsunami threats if underwater landslides are triggered.
