Watch: Buildings swept away as tsunami hits Russia after 8.8 quake

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka peninsula, sparking tsunami alerts and evacuations across parts of the Pacific coast.

In Severo-Kurilsk, a town of about 2,000 on Paramushir Island in the northern Kurils, tsunami waves up to four metres high crashed through the port, submerging the local fishing plant and sweeping buildings into the sea. Waves reached as far as the town’s World War II monument, about 400 metres from shore.

Evacuations and safety measures

Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov confirmed that everyone was evacuated safely with an hour’s notice. Most of the town sits on higher ground, safe from flooding.

Expedition team loses camp on Shumshu Island

An expedition from the Russian Geographical Society had their tent camp swept away by the tsunami on nearby Shumshu Island. Group member Vera Kostamo said all personnel escaped without injuries, but they lost all belongings.

State of emergency declared

Authorities in the Sakhalin region declared a state of emergency. The seismic monitoring service warned of strong aftershocks up to magnitude 7.5, calling this quake the region’s most powerful since 1952.