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8.8 magnitude quake hits near city of

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

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Tsunami of 3-5 metres recorded in Kamchatka Peninsula

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Warnings for Japan, Hawaii, US West Coast and other

Pacific

nations

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Largest quake in region since 1952, Russian science

academy says

July 30 (Reuters) - A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake

off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami

waves of up to 5 metres (16 feet) and sparked evacuation orders

in Hawaii and across the Pacific on Wednesday.

The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several

people in the remote Russian region, while much of Japan's

eastern seaboard - devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and

tsunami in 2011 - was ordered to evacuate.

In Hawaii, coastal residents were told to get to high ground

or the fourth floor or above of buildings, and the U.S. Coast

Guard ordered ships out of harbours as the tsunami approached.

"Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected," the

Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said on X.

Shortly after 0600 GMT, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

said 1-1.2-metre waves were impacting the Hawaiian islands.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said so far no waves of

consequence hit the islands but all flights in and out of Maui

were cancelled.

Tsunami waves struck parts of Kamchatka, partially flooding the

port and a fish processing plant in the town of Severo-Kurilsk

and sweeping vessels from their moorings, regional officials and

Russia's emergency ministry said.

"Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades

of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video

posted on the Telegram messaging app. Russian scientists said it

was the most powerful quake to hit the region since 1952.

Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram

that a kindergarten was damaged but most buildings withstood the

quake. No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was shallow

at a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles), and centred 119 km

east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000.

It revised the magnitude up from 8.0 earlier, and reported a

series of strong aftershocks up to a magnitude of 6.9.

A resident in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky said the

shaking rumbled for several minutes.

"I decided to leave the building," said Yaroslav, 25. "It

felt like the walls could collapse any moment. The shaking

lasted continuously for at least 3 minutes."

WARNINGS ACROSS THE PACIFIC

Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns across Japan's

Pacific coast and evacuation orders were issued for tens of

thousands of people.

Workers evacuated the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant,

where a meltdown following the 2011 tsunami caused a radioactive

disaster, operator TEPCO said.

Footage on public broadcaster NHK showed scores of people on

the northern island of Hokkaido on the roof of a building,

sheltering under tents from the beating sun, as fishing boats

left harbours to avoid potential damage from the incoming

waves.

Automaker Nissan Motor ( NSANF ) suspended operations at

certain domestic factories in Japan to ensure employee safety,

Kyodo news agency reported.

Three tsunami waves had been recorded in Japan, the largest of

1.3 metres (4.3 feet), officials said. Japan's Chief Cabinet

Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there were no injuries or

damage reported so far, and no irregularities at any nuclear

plants.

Tsunami waves of between 1-3 metres can be fatal for people

who are swept away, said NHK. They can also cause flooding and

damage wooden buildings, with people at risk of being killed by

large drifting objects, according to the Japan Lifesaving

Association.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also warned of "hazardous

tsunami waves" spreading across the Pacific.

Waves reaching more than 3 metres were possible along some

coasts of Russia, the northern Hawaiian islands and Ecuador,

while waves of 1-3 metres were possible in countries including

Japan, Hawaii, Chile and the Solomon Islands, it said.

Smaller waves were possible along coastlines across much of

the Pacific, including the U.S. West Coast.

"Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific

Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in

Hawaii," U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media

post.

"A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific

Coast of the United States."

'RING OF FIRE'

Several people in Kamchatka sought medical assistance

following the quake, Oleg Melnikov, regional health minister,

told Russia's TASS state news agency.

In Severo-Kurilsk in the northern Kuril islands, south of

Kamchatka, tsunami waves exceeded 3 metres, with the largest up

to 5 metres, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Alexander Ovsyannikov, the town's mayor, said four tsunami waves

had passed.

He urged residents to assess damage to their homes and not

to use gas stove heating until inspections had been carried out,

in order to avoid a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Power to the Sakhalin region had been cut off due to damage

to the electricity grid, RIA said, citing the regional governor.

Kamchatka and Russia's Far East sit on the Pacific Ring of

Fire, a geologically active region that is prone to earthquakes

and volcanic eruptions.

The Russian Academy of Sciences said it was the strongest

quake to hit the region since 1952.

"However, due to certain characteristics of the epicentre,

the shaking intensity was not as high ... as one might expect

from such a magnitude," said Danila Chebrov, director of the

Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service, on Telegram.

"Aftershocks are currently ongoing ... Their intensity will

remain fairly high. However, stronger tremors are not expected

in the near future. The situation is under control."