 "Today’s earthquake in Russia is tied as the sixth-largest ever recorded since modern records began, making it one of the most significant seismic events in decades.")
An 8.8‑magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest ever recorded, struck the coast of Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early on Wednesday.
The massive undersea quake unleashed tsunami waves that raced across the Pacific Ocean, prompting alerts from Japan and Alaska to Hawaii and New Zealand.
“This earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,” Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a statement posted to the Telegram messaging app.
So far, there have been no reports of fatalities. However, Russia’s state‑run Tass news agency reported that the city of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky, home to nearly 180,000 people, experienced intense shaking.
Residents fled their homes as the tremors struck. Inside homes, furniture crashed to the floor, mirrors shattered, and balconies shook violently as cars rocked back and forth on the streets outside.
The sheer strength of the quake makes it the most powerful seismic event the world has witnessed in the last 14 years. Here’s a look at some of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded.
Top 10 strongest earthquakes in history
Valdivia, Chile (May 22, 1960) – Magnitude 9.4–9.6
Known as the Great Chilean Earthquake, this remains the most powerful quake ever recorded. It unleashed massive tsunamis that struck Hawaii, Japan and even the Philippines, killing more than 1,600 people and leaving around 2 million homeless.
Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA (March 28, 1964) – Magnitude 9.2
Also known as the Good Friday Earthquake or the Great Alaska Earthquake, this devastating event lasted nearly 4.5 minutes. It caused widespread destruction across Alaska and triggered huge tsunamis that swept across the Pacific. More than 130 people were killed, and the damages were estimated at $2.3 billion.
Sumatra–Andaman, Indian Ocean (December 26, 2004) – Magnitude 9.1
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake led to one of the deadliest tsunamis in history, tearing through Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and East Africa. Over 2,80,000 lives were lost. The quake originated off the west coast of northern Sumatra and ruptured hundreds of kilometres of seabed, causing catastrophic destruction.
Tohoku, Japan (March 11, 2011) – Magnitude 9.0–9.1
The Tohoku earthquake is the strongest quake ever recorded in Japan. It triggered a massive tsunami that inundated coastal towns and cities, and led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. More than 18,000 people died, and 1,30,000 others were displaced from their homes.
Kamchatka, Russia (November 4, 1952) – Magnitude 9.0
This powerful earthquake struck the same region as this week’s tremor, generating giant tsunami waves that reached as far as Alaska and Hawaii. It was the world’s first ever recorded magnitude 9 earthquake. Because the area was sparsely populated, casualties were limited, but the damage was still estimated at $1 million.
Maule, Chile (February 27, 2010) – Magnitude 8.8
The Maule earthquake tore through central Chile, killing more than 500 people and causing massive infrastructure damage. Over 3,70,000 homes were destroyed, and the Pacific coast was battered by a devastating tsunami.
Ecuador–Colombia (January 31, 1906) – Magnitude 8.8
This massive quake struck near the Colombia–Ecuador border and triggered tsunamis that travelled as far north as San Francisco. At least 1,500 people lost their lives in the disaster.
Rat Islands, Alaska, USA (February 4, 1965) – Magnitude 8.7
One of Alaska’s strongest earthquakes, this tremor generated towering tsunamis over 35 feet high. Fortunately, the sparse population of the area meant that casualties were minimal.
Assam–Tibet, India/China (August 15, 1950) – Magnitude 8.7
The Assam–Tibet quake is the largest recorded earthquake not caused by oceanic subduction. It devastated northeastern India and Tibet, killing 780 people, triggering massive landslides and even altering river courses.
Indian Ocean, near Sumatra (April 11, 2012) – Magnitude 8.6
A rare strike‑slip earthquake struck near Sumatra in 2012, shaking Indonesia and surrounding regions. While it caused widespread panic, the damage was fortunately minimal compared to its strength.
What we know about today’s earthquake in Russia
Today’s earthquake in Russia is tied as the sixth-largest ever recorded since modern records began, making it one of the most significant seismic events in decades.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was located around 136 km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with the focus lying between 19 km and 21 km beneath the ocean floor.
The quake triggered a 13-foot-high tsunami that swept through parts of Russia, damaging buildings and forcing mass evacuations. Multiple aftershocks followed, ranging in magnitude from 5.2 to 6.9, the USGS reported.
The US Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for “hazardous tsunami waves” across Russia, Japan and Hawaii.
In Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed the largest wave recorded was 4 feet (1.21 m) at Haleiwa, Oahu, with a 12-minute gap between successive waves.
In Japan, officials ordered large-scale evacuations along the country’s Pacific coastline. More than 900,000 residents across 133 municipalities were instructed to leave their homes.
“Those near the coast should evacuate immediately to higher ground or safe buildings in the areas covered by the tsunami warning from Hokkaido to Wakayama Prefecture [hundreds of kilometres to the south],” Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi was quoted as saying by The Guardian. “Please be aware that after the initial wave, second and third waves of tsunamis can be even higher.”
The Russian Academy of Sciences confirmed that this was the most powerful quake to hit the Kamchatka region since 1952. However, experts noted that the effects on the ground were less destructive than expected given its magnitude.
“Due to certain characteristics of the epicentre, the shaking intensity was not as high … as one might expect from such a magnitude,” Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service, said on Telegram, reports The Indian Express.
He added that aftershocks would likely continue for some time. “Their intensity will remain fairly high. However, stronger tremors are not expected in the near future. The situation is under control,” he assured.
With input from agencies