Tourists from Yekaterinburg vacationing in Kamchatka have described their experience during the powerful earthquake that struck the region and triggered a tsunami warning. The earthquake, reported to be the strongest since 1952 with a magnitude of 8.7, caused widespread panic and disruption.

Anastasia, who is staying at the “Rosinka” base near Paratunka, recounted the frightening experience. “After the first strong jolt, we ran outside, and everything fell inside the house, the windows and doors were shaking,” she said, noting a power outage that lasted for three hours.

Alesya, another resident of Yekaterinburg vacationing in the same area near the Paratunka River, described how the tremors quickly escalated. “This morning everything happened quickly enough. I first ran away from the windows, then everyone screamed loudly and ran outside. I ran barefoot,” Alesya stated.

The earthquake’s intensity made it difficult to maintain balance, with furniture falling and dishes breaking inside the shaking houses. The tourists reported standing outside for about 20 minutes until the tremors subsided.

“It was scary precisely from the lack of understanding of what was happening, when it would end, and what if it was even stronger, and what to do next,” Alesya explained. She added that a local resident with them was particularly panicked, having never experienced anything of that magnitude before.

Following the initial earthquake, repeated tremors kept the tourists on edge. Alesya mentioned running outside with each jolt, eventually deciding to remain outdoors.

Upon returning to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, they found that ascents to volcanoes and access to beaches and the open ocean had been closed for the next five days. Some local residents, particularly those living on upper floors, were reportedly leaving for the countryside or setting up tents as a precaution.

Other tourists also shared their experiences. Igor posted a photo with the caption: “A building collapsed in front of us, the small valley of geysers.” Guzel, who had just arrived the day before, was caught in the earthquake while on a trip to Russkaya Bay. “Our captain was as calm as possible and took us away from the wave,” she said. She also noted that animals that typically rest on the rocks sought refuge in the water, and birds moved to the water’s surface.

Experts have described the earthquake as one of the most significant seismic events ever recorded.