Waves reach US west coast after Russian earthquake as Japan lifts warnings

Russians describe ‘terrifying’ moment when 8.8 magnitude quake hitpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 30 July

15:06 BST 30 July

Natalia Zotova
BBC Russian

Image source, Emergency Situations of Russia Handout/ Getty ImagesImage caption,

A screen grab from a video by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia shows the aftermath of an 8.8 magnitude earthquake

Vasily Berezhnoy has lived in Kamchatka, Russia, all his life and experienced several earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – but he says he doesn’t remember tremors as strong as today.

“People were in the streets – some in slippers, some in bathrobes, some holding their children. Some were hysterical,” he says. “When the ground beneath your feet moves like a wave, when you see pipes and towers swaying – it’s terrifying, of course. You can never get used to that.”

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit near the Kamchatka Peninsula at about 11:25am local time (00:25 BST) on Wednesday and is one of the most powerful ever recorded.

High school student Sofia says she was at home with her parents when the tremors began.

“Chaos broke out, the furniture started falling before our eyes, along with everything on it. I wasn’t the only one panicking – our neighbours, along with their pets, also rushed outside in a panic,” she says.

Sofia adds that people who tried to drive away created chaos on the roads, with massive traffic jams and accidents.