A VOLCANO has erupted following the monster 8.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia.
Tsunami alerts have now spread to South America after the sixth biggest recorded tremor ever saw nearly 2million people earlier evacuated from Japan’s coasts.
AFPTsunami-hit Severo-Kurilsk on Paramushir island of Russia’s northern Kuril islands[/caption]
ReutersHuge waves reached the coastline of Hokkaido in Japan[/caption]
APThe Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka has erupted following the earthquake (pictured erupting here in 2023)[/caption]
APOahu residents on Hawaii evacuate Ewa Beach[/caption]
The magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka peninsula on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said.
The quake struck about 84 miles out at sea at around 7.24pm EST (12:30am BST) at a shallow depth of 19.3km (12 miles).
It is the largest since the 2011 monster which led to a tsunami that caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The Klyuchevskoy volcano on the Kamchatka peninsula is now spewing lava following the severe shaking.
Huge aftershocks continue to hit the area and resulting tsunamis could last for more than a day.
Waves have already hit Russia, Japan, Hawaii, and California.
Have you been affected by the earthquake or tsunami? Contact James Halpin on [email protected]
A 4m (13ft) high wave was recorded on the southern tip of Kamchatka with waves inundating low lying areas and thousands evacuating.
Hawaii has seen waves nearly 6ft high, but officials believe the worst might be over and have downgraded warnings.
Some 1.9m people in Japan have been ordered to evacuate with a 1.3m (4ft) wave hitting the country.
It’s a nightmare scenario for the country that suffered a nuclear disaster at Fukushima in 2011 caused by a tsunami.
Workers from the nuclear plant have been evacuated and are monitoring it remotely.
Tsunami warnings are in place for as far away as Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Waves have also hit the mainland US, including California, Oregon, and Washington.
President Donald Trump posted following the quake: “Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii.
“A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit tsunami.gov/ for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!”
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