Tsunami Alert Issued for Pacific Nations After Major Russian Quake

A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off Russia’s far eastern coast early Thursday, prompting tsunami warnings for several Pacific regions. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake’s epicenter was located approximately 136 kilometers (85 miles) east of Petropavlovsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula, at a depth of 19 kilometers (12 miles). Authorities immediately issued tsunami alerts for coastal areas of Russia, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska. Seismic activity continues to be monitored across the Pacific basin following the major tremor.