Multiple Aftershocks Follow 8.8 Quake Near Kuril Islands

West Java has experienced a rising frequency of tectonic earthquakes, with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reporting a significant increase from just over 500 quakes annually to over 1,100 in recent years, aided by improved seismic monitoring. Most earthquakes in West Java are low in magnitude and shallow, linked to various regional faults. Meanwhile, in the Kuril Islands region of Russia, a series of powerful earthquakes has occurred, including a massive 8.8 magnitude quake, followed by multiple strong aftershocks of magnitudes above 6.0, raising concerns of structural damage and casualties though no deaths have been reported. The Kuril Islands events have prompted tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including for Hawaii, Japan, and parts of the United States, although some advisories, like Hawaii's, have been lifted. Russian authorities report injuries and a state of emergency in Severo-Kurilsk due to tsunami flooding, with expectations of further strong aftershocks in the area. These developments highlight ongoing seismic hazards both in West Java and the Russian Far East, underscoring the importance of earthquake preparedness and monitoring.