Powerful quake in Russia’s Far East causes tsunami, Japan and Hawaii order evacuations

A powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami up to 4 meters (13 feet) high and damaging buildings, including a kindergarten. The quake, one of the strongest in decades, prompted evacuation warnings in Kamchatka and along much of Japan’s east coast. Tsunami alerts were also issued for parts of Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and Micronesia. Several people in Russia were injured while fleeing, though no serious injuries were reported. Authorities said aftershocks are ongoing but stronger tremors are unlikely, Reuters has reported. Kamchatka lies in the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.