Powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes off the Kuril Islands as tsunami warning is issued for Hawaii
- A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the northern Pacific on Wednesday
- Tsunami warning was issued for shores on Russia ‘s far eastern Kuril Islands
- Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves were possible
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the northern Pacific on Wednesday and a tsunami warning was issued for the closest shores on Russia’s far eastern Kuril Islands. A tsunami watch was in place for Hawaii.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck 219 kilometers south-southeast of Severo on the Kuril chain far north of Japan. It was 56 kilometers (37 miles) deep.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of the quake’s epicenter.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Severo-Kurilsk on Russia’s far-east Kuril Islands
It said earthquakes of this strength in the past have caused tsunamis far from the epicenter. A tsunami watch was issued for Hawaii but has since been cancelled.
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center also still was analyzing the event to determine the level of danger for Alaska and the U.S. West Coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake was a stronger 7.8 magnitude and may cause a slight change of sea levels around Japanese coasts.