Kamchatka, Russia | July 30 (V7N) - A powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 8.7 struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, prompting widespread tsunami alerts across the U.S. West Coast and parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
 
According to updated information from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at approximately 7:24 p.m. Eastern Time, around 78 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a major city in the Russian Far East. The earthquake was shallow, occurring at a depth of 11 miles, which increases the likelihood of surface-level shaking and potential tsunami activity.
 
Tsunami warnings were promptly issued for several coastal areas, including remote regions of the Alaska Aleutians. Residents were instructed to evacuate low-lying coastal zones and to stay clear of beaches, harbors, and inlets.
 
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned that tsunamis generated by such powerful undersea quakes can produce dangerous wave activity and unpredictable currents. The effects may persist for up to 45 minutes or more, with waves potentially impacting coastlines from multiple directions due to the way they wrap around islands and headlands before entering bays and harbors.
 
Emergency authorities in the affected regions remain on high alert, and residents have been advised to monitor local emergency broadcasts and tsunami alerts until the all-clear is given. As of now, no immediate reports of damage or casualties have been confirmed, but assessments are ongoing.
 
Experts are closely monitoring aftershocks and additional seismic activity as the region remains seismically active.
 
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