A powerful tsunami struck Russia’s northern Kuril Islands on Wednesday morning, prompting a state of emergency in the region.
Local officials say residents were safely evacuated before the waves hit. The mayor of Severo-Kurilsk, Alexander Ovsyannikov, confirmed the town had about an hour to prepare.
“There was enough time, a whole hour,” he told reporters. “Everyone was evacuated. All the people are in the tsunami safety zone.”
Videos from the scene show water rushing through a port town, carrying debris through streets as sirens rang out in the background.
The tsunami was caused by a large undersea earthquake in the Pacific Ocean. The quake has also placed countries like Japan and the United States on high alert.
Russian authorities say coastal areas in the affected zone will remain closed until further notice, as emergency crews assess the situation.
Power Grid Damaged in Sakhalin Region
Following the tsunami, damage to infrastructure is already being reported.
In Russia’s Sakhalin region, the earthquake damaged the local power grid, leading to electricity outages in some areas, according to state news agency RIA.
The regional governor said power had to be shut down as a precaution following the impact.
Emergency teams are still working to understand the full extent of the damage. Officials say restrictions will stay in place until power is restored and the area is declared safe.
