Guwahati, July 30 -- A colossal 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, unleashing tsunami waves that impacted both Russia and Japan and set off alerts throughout the Pacific region, including the United States, Latin America, and several island nations.

According to Russian officials, waves reaching up to 4 meters (13 feet) inundated parts of Kamchatka. Severo-Kurilsk, a coastal town in the Sakhalin region, saw severe flooding, prompting the evacuation of around 2,000 residents. Videos circulating online showed portions of the town submerged as seawater swept inland.

Emergency authorities across the Pacific scrambled to respond. The U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers forecasted waves up t...