Tsunami waves hit Hawaii as massive earthquake off Russia triggers evacuations across Pacific

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on BBC News or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuations across the Pacific
• Waves of up to 1.8 metres (6 feet) have been recorded near Hawaii, with tsunami alerts in effect across Japan, the U.S. West Coast, the Philippines, and as far as Ecuador and Peru
• Hawaii's Governor Josh Green urged people to evacuate low-lying areas, while Japan ordered 1.9 million residents to leave coastal zones

🔭 The context: The Kamchatka Peninsula sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," one of the most seismically active zones globally
• The earthquake is one of the strongest recorded in the region's history. Japan’s experience with the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami — which led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster — has prompted particularly swift evacuations
• Pacific nations, still vulnerable from climate extremes, face compounded risks from natural disasters

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This disaster highlights the increasing exposure of coastal communities to extreme events, especially as climate change elevates sea levels and increases the frequency of compound hazards
• Evacuation and disaster management systems are being tested in real time across multiple countries
• Moreover, the physical and economic resilience of island nations and low-lying coasts — many already burdened by rising sea levels — faces renewed scrutiny.

⏭️ What's next: Tsunami waves are expected to continue for several hours. Authorities in Hawaii, Japan, and Russia are monitoring impacts and coordinating response
• Power outages have been reported in Russia’s Sakhalin region, while coastal cities in Japan and Hawaii remain under full alert
• U.S. Coast Guard has redirected all vessels away from Hawaiian ports, and flights have been diverted
• Assessment of infrastructure damage and possible secondary impacts (e.g. nuclear safety in Fukushima) is underway

💬 One quote: “Please take this very seriously. Get yourself as high as you possibly can,” urged Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi during a public alert briefing

📈 One stat: 1.9 million people in Japan have been ordered to evacuate coastal areas as tsunami waves continue to reach the northern prefectures

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