Sign in Subscribe
Nuclear energy

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Russia's Coast, Rivals 2011 Japan Quake

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's coast early Wednesday, surpassing the 2011 Japan earthquake in magnitude and posing a significant threat to the region. The earthquake is tied for the sixth-largest on record, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and is expected to result in tens of billions of dollars of economic damage for Russia. The quake is capable of triggering a large tsunami, similar to the one that devastated Japan in 2011, and the U.S. Geological Survey warns of "extensive damage" and a "likely widespread" disaster.

Key Takeaways:

  • The magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's coast is the most powerful since the 2011 earthquake off Japan's east coast, which triggered a 50-foot tsunami and nuclear disaster at Fukushima.
  • The quake is tied for the sixth-largest on record, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and is likely to result in tens of billions of dollars of economic damage for Russia.
  • The quake has the potential to trigger a large tsunami, similar to the one that devastated Japan in 2011, with waves potentially reaching as high as 50 feet.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey warns of "extensive damage" and a "likely widespread" disaster, with a possible national or international response required.
  • The five strongest earthquakes on record, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, are: Valdivia, Chile, 1960, magnitude 9.5; Alaska, United States, 1964, magnitude 9.2; Sumatra, Indonesia, 2004, magnitude 9.1; Tohoku, Japan, 2011, magnitude 9.1; and Kamchatka, Russia, 1952, magnitude 9.0.

Statistics:

  • Magnitude of the earthquake: 8.8
  • Approximate energy released: 31.6 times more than a magnitude 7.8 quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey
  • Estimated economic damage: Tens of billions of dollars, according to the U.S. Geological Survey
  • Number of people potentially affected: Unknown, but the U.S. Geological Survey warns of "extensive damage" and a "likely widespread" disaster
  • Number of lives lost in similar quakes: Over 45,000 (2011 Japan earthquake, and 2004 Sumatra earthquake)

Sources:

  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • "Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Strikes Russia's Coast" by unnamed author
  • "The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami" by Toshifumi Kitamura/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Read more