Massive earthquake in Russia causes tsunami warnings throughout the Pacific

The earthquake is the largest since the 2011 earthquake in Tohoku, Japan, and one of the “top ten largest earthquakes to occur since 1900,” according to the United States Geological Society. There have reportedly been 24 aftershocks in the area. Wednesday’s earthquake is “the latest in a sequence of earthquakes occurring offshore of the Kamchatka peninsula that began 10 days earlier.”

“Today’s earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,” said Vladimir Solodov, governor of Kamchatka, in a video posted on Telegram.

The earthquake caused tsunami waves in many land areas in or along the Pacific Ocean, according to the Associated Press. Tsunami warnings were issued for numerous places, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Peru, Japan, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Coast of the U.S. Large waves between 10-13 ft. were reported in Kamchatka and various parts of the Pacific Ocean. People in Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska were warned to avoid coastal areas and, in some instances, move to higher ground.

President Donald Trump posted a message to his social media accounts about the earthquake and warned of a potential tsunami in Hawaii and the Pacific Coast of the U.S.

“Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii,” Trump posted. “A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit https://tsunami.gov for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!”

As of early Wednesday morning, tsunami waves were reported in Hawaii and along the California coast in Arena Cove and Monterey.