A strong earthquake struck the Pacific Ocean near the Kuril Islands, prompting tsunami alerts and evacuations in the region

A state of emergency has been declared in the Severo-Kurilsk region of the Sakhalin region due to the threat of a tsunami. Residents have been evacuated to higher ground, ensuring their safety, according to Governor Valery Limarenko.

The earthquake, registering a magnitude of 8.7, occurred 360 km northeast of Severo-Kurilsk. It is reported as the strongest earthquake in the area since 1952.

Following the initial earthquake, the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences recorded approximately 30 aftershocks, ranging in intensity from 2 to 5 points.

Sakhalin experienced three tsunamis, and a wave measuring 3-4 meters in height reached the Yelizovsky district of Kamchatka. The tsunami alert remains in effect for the port area of Severo-Kurilsk.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport is operational, although passengers were evacuated during the earthquake, causing interior damage to the building. One person, a woman, sustained injuries but is in satisfactory condition, according to the regional Ministry of Health.

“There are victims in the earthquake, but no serious injuries have been observed,” stated Oleg Melnikov, the Minister of Health of the Kamchatka Territory.

Mobile operators reported no significant disruptions to network services in Kamchatka. While short-term outages may occur due to power disruptions, communication services are generally functioning normally.