A powerful earthquake measuring 8.8 struck off Russia’s Far East coast near Kamchatka on Wednesday morning. The tremor caused strong shaking, damaged buildings, and triggered tsunami warnings in Japan and Hawaii.

Strong quake causes panic

The earthquake hit at 8:24 am local time near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It is one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. More than 50 aftershocks followed, and experts warned that more quakes as strong as 7.5 could hit soon.

Social media videos showed the ceiling of an airport collapsing during the quake. A port got flooded, and several boats broke free. Emergency teams moved people to safety.

Yaroslav, a 25-year-old resident, told Reuters, “It felt like the walls could collapse any moment. The shaking lasted continuously for at least three minutes.”

Tsunami damages port and factories

Tsunami waves flooded the local port and a fish processing plant. Verified drone videos showed large areas underwater. The waves also surrounded tall buildings and warehouses.

Later, the Klyuchevskoy volcano, 450 kilometers away, started erupting. Officials are watching it closely.

Limited damage reported so far

Although the quake was very strong, authorities said the damage was not as severe as expected. Mayor Yevgeny Belyaev said public services are on high alert. Some new apartment buildings reported elevator failures.

Flights at Yelizovo Airport were delayed. Passengers ran for safety as parts of the ceiling collapsed. Many struggled to reach emergency exits.

Authorities shut down several national park zones to prevent accidents from landslides and falling rocks.

In nearby Sakhalin, emergency workers began relief work in Severo-Kurilsk, which was hit hard by tsunami waves. Local officials said it would take a week to fully assess the damage.

Why damage was less severe

Tsunami waves can travel faster than airplanes in deep water but slow down and rise in height near the coast. This makes them dangerous when they reach land.

Wednesday’s quake triggered waves up to 4 meters (13 feet) high. It struck at a shallow depth of 20.7 kilometers, which usually causes stronger seafloor movement and bigger waves. However, early evacuations, the shape of the coastline, and wave direction may have reduced the impact.

Residents recall terrifying moments

Officials declared a state of emergency in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The city is 149 kilometers from the quake’s center. People reported swaying buildings, falling furniture, and moving cars. Harbour cranes shook visibly.

A local told The Moscow Times, “Everything’s fine, but everyone is absolutely freaked out. It was the strongest earthquake in decades.” His relatives left the city for their dacha.

Others shared their fears online. One resident posted, “I have been living in Kamchatka for 42 years, but it was the first time I felt such an earthquake. I screamed so much: ‘God help me,’ although I am generally calm during earthquakes. Everything at home was smashed.”

Prices for safe accommodations rose, as some businesses tried to profit from the panic.

Meanwhile, emergency call centers saw a spike in calls. Many residents reported high blood pressure, seizures, and heart issues due to stress.