Millions Return Home as Pacific Tsunami Warnings Lifted After 8.8 Russia Quake

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations across more than a dozen Pacific Rim countries, including Japan, Chile, Ecuador, and the United States. Despite initial fears of waves up to four meters high causing widespread destruction, the tsunami threat largely subsided without significant damage or casualties, except for one fatality in Japan where a woman died after her car fell off a cliff during evacuation. Japan ordered nearly two million people to evacuate coastal areas and temporarily shut down popular tourism spots, while Chile conducted its largest evacuation ever, moving 1.4 million people to higher ground. The Galapagos Islands experienced minor surges but no damage, and Peru and Hawaii also faced disruptions such as port closures and flight cancellations. In Russia, the tsunami caused flooding and structural damage in the port of Severo-Kurilsk, but injuries were minimal, and a volcanic eruption was observed shortly after the quake. Authorities across the Pacific have since lifted or downgraded warnings, allowing millions of evacuees to safely return home as normalcy begins to resume.