Russia earthquake, Russia earthquake. I repeat it for emphasis not because it was a Russia earthquake measuring an extremely strong 8.8 – and it was felt on the Kamchatka Peninsula – which is what drew my attention and hope it did, yours as well. Following that, the tsunami warnings began flowing in from Japan, which amplified the shock of the Russia earthquake.
I would like to share in what way my mind processed what I saw, felt and learned about these events. Frankly, it was an exciting reminder of the capriciousness of nature and a sobering reminder just how interconnected we all are in the vast and powerful Pacific Ring of Fire.
What I learned
- It was a big event with the Russia earthquake measuring an 8.8, certainly one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded.
- The tsunami warnings in Japan created fear of disaster but while substantial waves occurred the tsunami was not as disastrous as had been feared.
- The early warning systems in Japan and Russia, possibly saved countless lives.
- The geography of the earthquake and its depth, time of day, limited the tsunami-related destruction to not be catastrophic
- These events demonstrated again why we all need to be careful in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The Russia Earthquake: When the World Shook Beneath My Feet
I remember it well – just after 11 in the morning. I wasn’t initially aware that it was an earthquake – I thought my phone was vibrating – but then I realized that the actual earth was moving. As the whole structure shook around me, my heart almost stopped. This wasn’t a local quake; it was the Russia earthquake, and it was about to go off.
Kamchatka is remote, there is no denying that, but living near the Pacific Ring of Fire is like being on a time bomb. What happens here is the massive Pacific tectonic plate slides slowly downwards beneath the smaller Okhotsk microplate. This is like an exceedingly slow dance where one partner wants to slide beneath the other but sometimes get stuck. Inhabiting millions of years of energy, there is a sudden LETTING GO of energy that triggers the megathrust earthquake.
I spoke to a friend that lives near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. He described it this way, “It was like the earth was roaring beneath us. The windows were rattling, but people ran outside. We could smell the ocean, even though it was far away.” The quake lasted nearly four minutes, which is a long time when your world is shaking.
The Japan Tsunami: Growth of Anxiety and Assertiveness
When a large earthquake strikes close to ocean waters, all are concerned for potential tsunamis. The Japan Tsunami warnings began to sound within minutes – it is a realizable nuisance due to an unfortunate history including the deadly 2011 Tōhoku tsunami that cost thousands of lives.
Fortunately, Japan has one of the best tsunami alert systems in effect in the world. Millions of warnings for high ground evacuations were sent in minutes. I watched from a safe distance, texting back and forth with a friend in Hokkaido who said she was packing emergency bags for the second time in her life. She said, “I don’t want to live my life in fear forever, but this system saved my family in 2011. We cannot ignore it.”
The waves that reached the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula were approximately 4 metres high. This is enough to swell harbours, swamp streets, and bring boats crashing ashore, but not reminiscent to the towering walls of water that have swept inundated many coastal towns in the past. In Japan, wave heights were about 1 metre, or a bit higher; not insignificant but far from a disproportionate death toll.
What’s Next? Watching the Aftershocks from the Russia Earthquake and Japan Tsunami
The earth is not done shaking yet. The aftershocks should continue for (most likely) weeks. Both Russia and Japan officials are on high alert. The scientific community is (through the Russian Academy of Science) carefully observing the movements; the scientific communities are prepared if the local alert systems get triggered.
If you live (or are nearby) somewhere that experiences earthquakes, this is what I suggest:
- Be familiar with your local escape plans.
- Be ready with your emergency kits.
- Be aware of local announcements from trusted local authorities like the Japan Meteorological Agency or the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
- Talk amongst your friends and family openly about what to do because preparedness saves lives.
My Final Thoughts on the Russia Earthquake and Japan Tsunami are:
I will close my message; witnessing the togetherness that happens at these events closes in the reminder of how small we are but how powerful we can be if everyone agrees to act together. The Russia earthquake and Japan Tsunami were not just headlines; but timely reminders to respect mother nature, improve legitimate preparedness for earth and human life, and to take caring of humankind to a higher level.
Every time the earth shakes, we are as humans being taught something new; we just need to listen.
