SALINE COUNTY - An earthquake was reported to have occurred in Saline County Wednesday afternoon.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake happened at approximately 2:14 pm on Wednesday, three miles east of Assaria.

Reportedly, the quake had a very shallow depth of 9.1 km (5.6 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter.

According to Saline County Sheriff's dispatch, there has been no reported injuries.

Salina PostSALINE COUNTY - An earthquake was reported to have occurred in Saline County Wednesday afternoon.According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake happened at approximately 2:14 pm on Wednesday, three miles east of Assaria.Reportedly, the quake had a very shallow depth of 9.1 km (5.6 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter.According to Saline County Sheriff's dispatch, there has been no reported injuries.

Earthquake over 3.0 magnitude reported three miles east of Assaria 

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—A series of small earthquake shook portions of central Kansas over the past two days.

A 2.8 magnitude quake struck just before 6p.m. three miles northeast of Wilson, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Kansas Geological Survey reported a 3.2. magnitude quake in Russell County at approximately the same time.

The Kansas Geological Survey also reported two additional quakes measuring 2.6 and 2.1 in Russell County on Sunday morning and Monday morning.

The Ellsworth County Sheriff's office has not received any calls about the quakes.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—A series of small earthquake shook portions of central Kansas over the past two days.A 2.8 magnitude quake struck just before 6p.m. three miles northeast of Wilson, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Kansas Geological Survey reported a 3.2. magnitude quake in Russell County at approximately the same time.The Kansas Geological Survey also reported two additional quakes measuring 2.6 and 2.1 in Russell County on Sunday morning and Monday morning.The Ellsworth County Sheriff's office has not received any calls about the quakes.

Series of small earthquakes reported in central Kansas

RUSSELL &amp; DICKINSON COUNTIES - A series of small earthquakes were reported have occurred in Russell and Dickinson counties this week.

According to the <a href="https://maps.kgs.ku.edu/earthquake_mini_viewer/">Kansas Geological Survey</a> (KSG) on Tuesday in Russell County at 10:46 pm, an earthquake of 3.8 magnitude occurred. Subsequently, a 2.8 magnitude quake at 11:12 pm and a 3.4 magnitude quake at 12:14 am Wednesday occurred as well.

Back on Monday, KSG reported an earthquake of 3.0 occurred in Dickinson County on 4:56 am.

There were no reports of any damage or injuries, according to the Russell County Sheriff's office or the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office.

Salina PostRUSSELL &amp; DICKINSON COUNTIES - A series of small earthquakes were reported have occurred in Russell and Dickinson counties this week.According to the <a href="https://maps.kgs.ku.edu/earthquake_mini_viewer/">Kansas Geological Survey</a> (KSG) on Tuesday in Russell County at 10:46 pm, an earthquake of 3.8 magnitude occurred. Subsequently, a 2.8 magnitude quake at 11:12 pm and a 3.4 magnitude quake at 12:14 am Wednesday occurred as well.Back on Monday, KSG reported an earthquake of 3.0 occurred in Dickinson County on 4:56 am.There were no reports of any damage or injuries, according to the Russell County Sheriff's office or the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office.

Series of small earthquakes reported in local counties

RUSSELL COUNTY —A series of small earthquakes shook portions of north west and north central Kansas over the past two days.

Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas Geological Survey reported a 2.7 magnitude quake in Rooks County, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. 

Since then the KGS reported three additional quakes in Russell County. A 3.8 magnitude quake at 10:46p.m., a 2.8 magnitude quake at 11:12p.m. Tuesday and a 3.4 magnitude quake at 12:14a.m. Wednesday.

There are no reports of any damage or injury, according to the Russell County Sheriff's office.

RUSSELL COUNTY —A series of small earthquakes shook portions of north west and north central Kansas over the past two days.Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas Geological Survey reported a 2.7 magnitude quake in Rooks County, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. Since then the KGS reported three additional quakes in Russell County. A 3.8 magnitude quake at 10:46p.m., a 2.8 magnitude quake at 11:12p.m. Tuesday and a 3.4 magnitude quake at 12:14a.m. Wednesday.There are no reports of any damage or injury, according to the Russell County Sheriff's office.

Series of small earthquakes shake north central Kansas

ROOKS COUNTY —A pair of small earthquake shook portions of northwest Kansas since Friday.

Just before 10p.m. Monday, a quake with a magnitude 3.6 rattled rural Rooks County approximately 3 miles northwst of Stockton, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.

Just before 5a.m. Friday, the Kansas Geological Survey reported a 2.3 magnitude quake in the same area. There are no reports of any damage, according to the Rooks County Sheriff's office&nbsp;

ROOKS COUNTY —A pair of small earthquake shook portions of northwest Kansas since Friday.Just before 10p.m. Monday, a quake with a magnitude 3.6 rattled rural Rooks County approximately 3 miles northwst of Stockton, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.Just before 5a.m. Friday, the Kansas Geological Survey reported a 2.3 magnitude quake in the same area. There are no reports of any damage, according to the Rooks County Sheriff's office&nbsp;

Small earthquakes reported in NW Kansas

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in search of missing loved ones after a strong earthquake killed some 800 people and injured more than 2,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to figures provided Monday by the Taliban government.

The 6.0 magnitude quake late Sunday hit towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangarhar province, causing extensive damage.

The quake at 11:47 p.m. was centered 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was just 8 kilometers (5 miles) deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage. Several aftershocks followed.

Footage showed rescuers taking injured people on stretchers from collapsed buildings and into helicopters as people frantically dug through rubble with their hands.

The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at a press conference Monday that the death toll had risen to at least 800 with more than 2,500 injured. He said most of the casualties were in Kunar.

Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are poorly built.

One resident in Nurgal district, one of the worst-affected areas in Kunar, said nearly the entire village was destroyed.

“Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,” said the villager, who did not give his name.

“We need help here,” he pleaded. "We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.”

Homes collapsed and people screamed for help

Eastern Afghanistan is mountainous, with remote areas.

The quake has worsened communications. Blocked roads are forcing aid workers to walk four or five hours to reach survivors. Dozens of flights have operated in and out of Nangarhar Airport, transporting the injured to hospitals.

One survivor described seeing homes collapse before his eyes and people screaming for help.

Sadiqullah, who lives in the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, said he was woken by a deep boom that sounded like a storm approaching. Like many Afghans, he uses only one name.

He ran to where his children were sleeping and rescued three of them. He was about to return to grab the rest of his family when the room fell on top of him.

“I was half-buried and unable to get out,” he told The Associated Press by phone from Nangarhar Hospital. “My wife and two sons are dead, and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out."

It felt like the whole mountain was shaking, he said.

Rescue operations were underway and medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital Kabul have arrived in the area, said Sharafat Zaman, a health ministry spokesman.

Zaman said many areas had not been able to report casualty figures and that “the numbers were expected to change” as deaths and injuries are reported. The chief spokesman, Mujahid, said helicopters had reached some areas but road travel was difficult.

“There are some villages where the injured and dead haven't been recovered from the rubble, so that’s why the numbers may increase,” he told journalists.

The tremors were felt in neighboring Pakistan

Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the earthquake intensified existing humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan and urged international donors to support relief efforts.

“This adds death and destruction to other challenges including drought and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries,” Grandi wrote on the social media platform X. “Hopefully the donor community will not hesitate to support relief efforts.”

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-herat-earthquake-155c12cd085d7aa8ee1fef5882e120f4">Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2023</a>, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished in that quake.

The U.N. gave a lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.

The latest earthquake was likely to “dwarf the scale of the humanitarian needs” caused by the disaster of 2023, according to the International Rescue Committee.

Entire roads and communities have been cut off from accessing nearby towns or hospitals and 2,000 casualties were reported within the first 12 hours, said Sherine Ibrahim, the country director for the aid agency.

“Although we have been able to act fast, we are profoundly fearful for the additional strain this will have on the overall humanitarian response in Afghanistan," said Ibrahim. "&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-aid-agencies-women-8e6b00ad31a4b6a192c32f7b9ed8070f">Global funding cuts</a>&nbsp;have dramatically hampered our ability to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that immediate needs include search and rescue support, emergency healthcare and medical supplies, food, clean water, and restoring road access to reach isolated communities.

Sunday night’s quake was felt in parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by events in Afghanistan. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We are ready to extend all possible support in this regard,” he said on X.

Pakistan has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-afghan-refugees-deadline-return-un-fe4a63a110fdb4d7528352cf9e5b1d9b">expelled tens of thousands of Afghans</a>&nbsp;in the past year, many of them living in the country for decades as refugees.

At least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-pakistan-afghan-deportation-refugees-ea3fd1f9b995e4f97d8584718cea058d">1.2 million Afghans</a>&nbsp;have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, according to a June report by UNHCR.

Associated Press journalist Suzan Fraser contributed reporting from Ankara, Turkey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756722828476.png" alt="Image USGS" />
 <figcaption>Image USGS</figcaption>
 </figure>KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in search of missing loved ones after a strong earthquake killed some 800 people and injured more than 2,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to figures provided Monday by the Taliban government.The 6.0 magnitude quake late Sunday hit towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangarhar province, causing extensive damage.The quake at 11:47 p.m. was centered 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was just 8 kilometers (5 miles) deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage. Several aftershocks followed.Footage showed rescuers taking injured people on stretchers from collapsed buildings and into helicopters as people frantically dug through rubble with their hands.The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at a press conference Monday that the death toll had risen to at least 800 with more than 2,500 injured. He said most of the casualties were in Kunar.Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are poorly built.One resident in Nurgal district, one of the worst-affected areas in Kunar, said nearly the entire village was destroyed.“Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,” said the villager, who did not give his name.“We need help here,” he pleaded. "We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.”<h2>Homes collapsed and people screamed for help</h2>Eastern Afghanistan is mountainous, with remote areas.The quake has worsened communications. Blocked roads are forcing aid workers to walk four or five hours to reach survivors. Dozens of flights have operated in and out of Nangarhar Airport, transporting the injured to hospitals.One survivor described seeing homes collapse before his eyes and people screaming for help.Sadiqullah, who lives in the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, said he was woken by a deep boom that sounded like a storm approaching. Like many Afghans, he uses only one name.He ran to where his children were sleeping and rescued three of them. He was about to return to grab the rest of his family when the room fell on top of him.“I was half-buried and unable to get out,” he told The Associated Press by phone from Nangarhar Hospital. “My wife and two sons are dead, and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out."It felt like the whole mountain was shaking, he said.Rescue operations were underway and medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital Kabul have arrived in the area, said Sharafat Zaman, a health ministry spokesman.Zaman said many areas had not been able to report casualty figures and that “the numbers were expected to change” as deaths and injuries are reported. The chief spokesman, Mujahid, said helicopters had reached some areas but road travel was difficult.“There are some villages where the injured and dead haven't been recovered from the rubble, so that’s why the numbers may increase,” he told journalists.<h2>The tremors were felt in neighboring Pakistan</h2>Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the earthquake intensified existing humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan and urged international donors to support relief efforts.“This adds death and destruction to other challenges including drought and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries,” Grandi wrote on the social media platform X. “Hopefully the donor community will not hesitate to support relief efforts.”A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-herat-earthquake-155c12cd085d7aa8ee1fef5882e120f4">Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2023</a>, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished in that quake.The U.N. gave a lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.The latest earthquake was likely to “dwarf the scale of the humanitarian needs” caused by the disaster of 2023, according to the International Rescue Committee.Entire roads and communities have been cut off from accessing nearby towns or hospitals and 2,000 casualties were reported within the first 12 hours, said Sherine Ibrahim, the country director for the aid agency.“Although we have been able to act fast, we are profoundly fearful for the additional strain this will have on the overall humanitarian response in Afghanistan," said Ibrahim. "&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-aid-agencies-women-8e6b00ad31a4b6a192c32f7b9ed8070f">Global funding cuts</a>&nbsp;have dramatically hampered our ability to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.”The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that immediate needs include search and rescue support, emergency healthcare and medical supplies, food, clean water, and restoring road access to reach isolated communities.Sunday night’s quake was felt in parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad. There were no reports of casualties or damage.Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by events in Afghanistan. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We are ready to extend all possible support in this regard,” he said on X.Pakistan has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-afghan-refugees-deadline-return-un-fe4a63a110fdb4d7528352cf9e5b1d9b">expelled tens of thousands of Afghans</a>&nbsp;in the past year, many of them living in the country for decades as refugees.At least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-pakistan-afghan-deportation-refugees-ea3fd1f9b995e4f97d8584718cea058d">1.2 million Afghans</a>&nbsp;have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, according to a June report by UNHCR.———Associated Press journalist Suzan Fraser contributed reporting from Ankara, Turkey.

Hundreds dead and injured after large earthquake in Afghanistan

SALINE COUNTY — The ground continues to shake in Saline County. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.3 magnitude earthquake just before 6:30p.m. Monday was centered approximately 3 miles east of Assaria. The Kansas Geological Survey reported the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.7. Moments later the KGS reported a 3.1 magnitude quake in the same area.

This is the fifth quake in that area since Saturday.

Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 was reported 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.&nbsp; A 2.7 magnitude quake shook the same area a short time later.

Just after 5:35p.m. Sunday the USGS reported a 3.3 magnitude quake approximately 4 miles southeast of Assaria.

There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quakes, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754388617954.png" alt="-Star marks the location of the Monday evening earthquake" />
 <figcaption>-Star marks the location of the Monday evening earthquake</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — The ground continues to shake in Saline County. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.3 magnitude earthquake just before 6:30p.m. Monday was centered approximately 3 miles east of Assaria. The Kansas Geological Survey reported the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.7. Moments later the KGS reported a 3.1 magnitude quake in the same area.This is the fifth quake in that area since Saturday.Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 was reported 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.&nbsp; A 2.7 magnitude quake shook the same area a short time later.Just after 5:35p.m. Sunday the USGS reported a 3.3 magnitude quake approximately 4 miles southeast of Assaria.There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quakes, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

USGS reports more earthquake activity in Saline County

SALINE COUNTY — Small earthquakes shook central Kansas on over the weekend.

Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 rattled portions of rural Saline County approximately 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.&nbsp; A 2.7 magnitude quake shook the same area a short time later.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754176253943.png" alt="Location of the quake on Saturday- imageUSGS" />
 <figcaption>Location of the quake on Saturday- imageUSGS</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Small earthquakes shook central Kansas on over the weekend.Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 rattled portions of rural Saline County approximately 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.&nbsp; A 2.7 magnitude quake shook the same area a short time later.Just after 5:35p.m. Sunday the USGS reported a 3.3 magnitude quake approximately 4 miles southeast of Assaria.There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quakes, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

USGS reports more earthquakes in Saline County

SALINE COUNTY — A small earthquake shook central Kansas on Saturday.

Just before 4:30p.m., a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 rattled portions of rural Saline County approximately 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quake, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754176253943.png" alt="Star marks the location of the quake- USGS image" />
 <figcaption>Star marks the location of the quake- USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — A small earthquake shook central Kansas on Saturday.Just before 4:30p.m., a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 rattled portions of rural Saline County approximately 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quake, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

Small earthquake reported in Saline county

A tsunami sent powerful waves toward coastal areas of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-russia-kamchatka-earthquake-tsunami-warning-a88cbe8a1e985cff54dc0ad849ea5ddb">Russia’s Kuril Islands, Japan and Hawaii and Alaska</a>&nbsp;after a powerful, 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia early Wednesday. Warnings are also in place for Alaska and other coasts south toward New Zealand.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami as high as 60 centimeters (2 feet) had been detected as the waves moved south along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Tokyo Bay. Officials urged caution, saying that bigger waves could come later.

Damage and evacuations were reported in the Russian regions nearest the quake’s epicenter on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/volcanoes-international-f1d957fb1c4c48c5845b751b2f45d255">Kamchatka Peninsula</a>&nbsp;and officials declared a state of emergency in several areas.

Explosions and lava flows on Russian volcano

Lava has begun to flow from the largest active volcano in the northern hemisphere Wednesday following the earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast.

The Klyuchevskaya Sopka — which last erupted in 2023 — stands at 4,750 meters (15,584 feet) in the east of Russia’s Kamchatka region.

Observers heard explosions and saw streams of lava on the volcano’s western slopes, the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ geophysical service said.

Scientists have anticipated an eruption, with the volcano’s crater filling with lava for several weeks and the mountain spitting out plumes of ash.

Sometimes described as the “land of fire and ice,” Kamchatka is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world. It has about 300 volcanoes, of which 29 are active, according to NASA Earth Observatory.

California city urges people to stay away from beaches

Officials warned people to stay away from beaches and waterways in Crescent City, California, which has observed dozens of tsunamis since the 1930s, including one that killed 11 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings in the city in 1964.

The warning came after a 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Far East coast on Wednesday. The U.S. National Weather Service’s Eureka office reported tsunami waves with a maximum height of 3.6 feet (1.1 meters) in Crescent City — enough to create minor coastal flooding and inundation.

The 1964 event, considered the worst tsunami disaster recorded in the United States, began with a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Alaska, according to the Crescent City website. Three smaller waves caused little damage, but then a big wave — nearly 21 feet (more than 6 meters) — devastated 29 city blocks and killed 11.

Hawaii and parts of Japan downgrade tsunami warnings

Hawaii and parts of Japan downgraded tsunami warnings, with Hawaii lifting evacuation orders across the state while leaving a tsunami advisory in place.

Officials in Hawaii said residents who had evacuated could return to their homes.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, the Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense, said an advisory means there is the potential for strong currents and dangerous waves, as well as flooding on beaches or in harbors.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency downgraded its tsunami alert to an advisory in the Pacific coast south of Fukushima, with the alert still in place farther north.

Russia declares state of emergency in areas hit by earthquake

The Russian authorities declared a state of emergency on the Kuril Islands and in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the main city on the Kamchatka peninsula.

They earlier reported that several tsunami waves flooded the fishing port of Severo-Kurilsk, the main city on the islands, and cut power supplies to the area. Russia's Oceanography Institute said tsunami waves that hit the city topped 6 meters (19 feet).

Japan asserts territorial rights to the four Pacific islands it calls the Northern Territories. They were taken by the Soviet Union in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty.

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, local officials said that municipal workers had checked about 600 apartment buildings and found no major damage that would require evacuations. The inspections are continuing.

The city is located on the coast of Avacha Bay, which protects it from waves.

The Oceanology Institute said that tsunami waves might have been as high as 10-15 meters (33-49 feet) in some sections of the sparsely populated Kamchatka coast.

8.8-magnitude quake was among the strongest this century

Wednesday’s 8.8-magnitude quake was among the four strongest earthquakes this century, and among the eight strongest since 1900, according to the USGS.

The earthquake occurred along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the ring of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.

The 2011 Japan quake and the 2004 earthquake off Indonesia were 9.1 magnitude, and a 2010 earthquake in Chile also was recorded at 8.8 magnitude.

Japanese official warns evacuees they might not be able to return home by day’s end

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told evacuees in the tsunami-affected areas that they might not be able to return home by the end of the day on Wednesday.

Hayashi said waves could remain high for at least one day, and he urged evacuees to take precautions and stay well hydrated in the summer heat.

Damage and minor injuries reported in Russian Far East

Local authorities on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula said several people were injured during the massive quake, but didn’t give an exact number.

Oleg Melnikov, head of the regional health department, said a few people hurt themselves while rushing to leave buildings and a hospital patient received an injury while jumping out of a window. Melnikov said that all injured people were in satisfactory condition.

A video released by Russian media outlet showed a team of doctors at a cancer clinic on Kamchatka holding a patient and clutching medical equipment as the quake rocked an operating room, before continuing with surgery after the shaking stopped. Officials said the doctors will receive decorations.

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka’s regional capital, the quake damaged a local kindergarten, which was not in operation due to ongoing repair work.

The Russian authorities said that tsunami waves topping 3 meters (10 feet) hit Severokurilsk, the main city on the Pacific archipelago that Russia calls the Kuril Islands.

Severokurilsk Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov said the city's was flooded by four tsunami waves, which washed fishing boats into the sea, but no major damage was recorded in the city. Power supplies were shut off and the authorities were checking the power network after the flooding.

Japan also asserts territorial rights to the islands it calls the Northern Territories, which were taken by the Soviet Union in the final days of World War II. The dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty.

Water recedes at Hawaii beaches as tsunami reaches Oahu

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said officials observed water receding by 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) at Haleiwa Harbor on Oahu, the state’s most populous island, an indication tsunami waves will arrive. The waves pulling out left boats to lay on dry rock and sand. “That gave us pause,” Green said.

So far no damage has been recorded, but it will take two to three hours of observation before authorities will be able to determine whether the event has passed, Green said.

Pacific island nations urge people to avoid coastlines

Authorities in a number of small island nations in the South Pacific Ocean urged people to stay away from coastlines, familiarize themselves with evacuation routes and await further guidance from officials, but did not order evacuations.

Some tiny and low-lying Pacific island chains are among the world’s most imperiled by tsunamis and rising seas.

Cautions to stay away from beaches until any wave surges passed late Wednesday were issued by officials in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands.

Nearly 2 million people under evacuation advisories in Japan

Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said nearly 2 million residents are now under evacuation advisories in more than 220 municipalities along the Pacific coast as of midday Wednesday.

It added that one person was slightly injured on the northern island of Hokkaido when a woman in her 60s fell while rushing to evacuate. She was taken to a hospital.

Governor says Hawaii is ready for evacuations

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said data from Midway Atoll, which is part of the way between Japan and Hawaii, measured tsunami waves from peak to trough of 6 feet (1.8 meters).

He said waves hitting Hawaii could be bigger or smaller and it was too early to tell how large they would be. A tsunami of that size would be akin to a three foot (90 centimeter) wave riding on top of surf, he said.

He told a new conference that a wave that size could move cars and throw fences around.

“It can dislodge trees, that’s why you can’t just be out there. The impact is at great speed,” Green said. “Any any structure that gets loose and strikes the individual could take them out. And people can drown quite easily with the force of that kind of wave.”

Green said Black Hawk helicopters have been activated and high-water vehicles were ready to go in case authorities need to rescue people.

“But please do not put yourself in harm’s way,” he said.

Tsunami sirens sound in remote California city

The small Northern California community of Crescent City turned on its tsunami sirens to warn residents about possible waves.

“You are hearing a Tsunami Siren. We are under a Tsunami Warning. Please stay away from beaches and waterways. A predicted wave may hit at 11:55 pm. We are waiting on additional information about any level of evacuation,” read a post from the City Hall Facebook account.

The city in rural Northern California has roughly 6,000 residents.

A tsunami in 1964 caused by an earthquake in Alaska caused a wave 21 feet (6.4 meters) high to hit the city, killing 11 people and destroying its downtown.

There were long lines at gas stations near downtown Honolulu, with standstill traffic even in areas away from the shoreline.

A Texaco gas station in the Nuuanu-Punchbowl neighborhood closed early so that workers could go home. The workers set out cones at pumps and turned away motorists.

Jimmy Markowski, on a family vacation from Hot Springs, Arkansas, ended up at the closed Texaco station after fleeing their Waikiki beach resort in a caravan of three cars carrying 15 people.

“All we’re trying to do is just figure out what we’re going to do for the next three or four hours,” he said. “We’ve got water, we got some snacks ... we’re going to stay elevated. This is our first tsunami warning ever. So this is all new to us.”

Honolulu resident Kale Aʻi stopped at the station after spending more than an hour on what would normally be a 12-minute drive from his home near the coast. He was trying to get to his grandfather’s house further inland.

“I’ve always tried to be a little bit more cautious because it’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said.

A tsunami of 60 centimeters (2 feet) arrived at Hamanaka town on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and Kuji port in Iwate on the main island, up from the earlier tsunami of 40 cm (1.3 ft), according to the JMA. A tsunami of 20 cm (7.9 inches) was detected in the Tokyo Bay, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Shiji Kiyomoto, a JMA earthquake and tsunami response official, said second or third tsunami waves of tsunami had arrived. Kiyomoto did not say when tsunami alerts would be lifted, and said high waves may last for at least a day, urging residents to stay at safe places.

Tsunamis are waves triggered by earthquakes, underwater volcanic eruptions and submarine landslides. After an underwater earthquake, the seafloor rises and drops, which lifts water up and down. The energy from this pushes sea water that transfers to waves.

Many people think of tsunamis as one wave. But they are typically multiple waves that rush ashore like a fast-rising tide.

Some tsunamis are small and don’t cause damage. Others can cause massive destruction. In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indian-ocean-tsunami-anniversary-photo-gallery-65a5fdaeed08d68336523e7e4a4835a2">causing waves that leveled remote villages, ports and tourist resorts</a>&nbsp;along the Indian Ocean across Southeast and South Asia.

Tsunami warning issued for parts of China

China’s Ministry of Natural Resources’ Tsunami Warning Center has issued an alert for parts of the country’s east coast along Shanghai and Zhejiang provinces.

The warning forecasts that waves could reach between 0.3 to 1 meter (1 to 3 feet).

Shanghai and Zhejiang are already under alert as Typhoon CoMay is expected to land in the Zhejiang province Wednesday.

Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said Tuesday evening he had not heard of any specific reports of damage from the tsunami generated by the 8.8-magnitued earthquake.

Forecasted maximum tsunami heights ranged from less than 1 foot to about 5 feet (less than 30 centimeters to 1.5 meters) across parts of Alaska, Oregon, Washington and California, with higher levels projected in isolated areas.

The center said some places could still be feeling impacts from the tsunami for hours or perhaps more than a day.

“A tsunami is not just one wave,” Snider said. “It’s a series of powerful waves over a long period of time. Tsunamis cross the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour — as fast as a jet airplane — in deep water. But when they get close to the shore, they slow down and start to pile up. And that’s where that inundation problem becomes a little bit more possible there.”

Hawaii authorities set up evacuation shelters at schools and community centers

Honolulu won’t operate bus trips scheduled to start after 6 p.m. local time. Drivers still on routes after that and who are in inundation zones will head to higher ground.

“We want everyone to stay safe,” said Honolulu Fire Department Chief Sheldon Hao. ”Evacuate early so you don’t put yourself in a tough situation.”

US National Weather Service warns people against going to the coast to look for tsunami waves

“This will NOT be a single wave. Do NOT try to go to the coast to take photos,” the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area office posted on X.

The agency warned people could put themselves and any rescue teams that may be out at risk.

The Bay Area is under a tsunami advisory. Communities further north are under a warning.

Tsunami forecast to hit parts of Vancouver Island, British Columbia

The province’s emergency preparedness agency said waves of less than 30 centimeters (less than 1 foot) were expected to reach Tofino around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday local time. A tsunami advisory spans much of British Columbia’s coast and the agency said “multiple waves over time” were expected. The waves are expected to first reach remote Langara Island around 10:05 p.m.

The agency said local governments should consider evacuating marinas, beaches and other areas near the ocean.

Mexico’s Navy warns Pacific coast to anticipate tsunami waves

Tsunami danger subsiding in some places after 8.8 magnitude quake

GRHAM COUNTY — A series of small earthquakes shook northwest Kansas on Saturday and early Sunday.

 Just after 2p.m. Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2. 6 magnitude quake approximately 4.3 miles southwest of Bogue. 

&nbsp;Just before 4p.m. the USGS reported a 2.5 magnitude quake 5 and one half miles south of Hill City.&nbsp; Moments later a third quake measuring a magnitude 2.7 was recorded approximately 7 miles northeast of Collyer.

This activity follows a 2.1 magnitude quake southwest of Bogue on June 28, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are no reports of damage, according to the Graham County Sheriff's office. However, according to the sheriff's office, many in the community have felt the tremors over the past 24. hours.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751809186890.png" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>GRHAM COUNTY — A series of small earthquakes shook northwest Kansas on Saturday and early Sunday. Just after 2p.m. Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2. 6 magnitude quake approximately 4.3 miles southwest of Bogue. &nbsp;Just before 4p.m. the USGS reported a 2.5 magnitude quake 5 and one half miles south of Hill City.&nbsp; Moments later a third quake measuring a magnitude 2.7 was recorded approximately 7 miles northeast of Collyer.This activity follows a 2.1 magnitude quake southwest of Bogue on June 28, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are no reports of damage, according to the Graham County Sheriff's office. However, according to the sheriff's office, many in the community have felt the tremors over the past 24. hours.

Series of small earthquakes reported in NW Kansas

DICKINSON COUNTY — A small earthquake shook central Kansas Thursday afternoon.

Just after 4:30p.m., a quake measuring a magnitude 3.6 rattled portions of rural Dickinson County three miles northwest of Herington, according to the U.S. Geological Survey&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Dickinson County Sheriff's office had no information on reports of damage or injury.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747353095577.png" alt="USGS image" />
 <figcaption>USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY — A small earthquake shook central Kansas Thursday afternoon.Just after 4:30p.m., a quake measuring a magnitude 3.6 rattled portions of rural Dickinson County three miles northwest of Herington, according to the U.S. Geological Survey&nbsp;&nbsp;The Dickinson County Sheriff's office had no information on reports of damage or injury.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Small earthquake reported in central Kansas

By DAVID RISING and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI &nbsp;Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar's ruling military said Saturday on state television that the confirmed death toll from a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake rose to 1,644, as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the scores of buildings that collapsed when it struck near the country's second-largest city.

The new total is a sharp rise compared to the 1,002 total announced just hours earlier, underlining the difficulty of confirming casualties over a widespread region and the likelihood that the numbers will continue to grow from Friday's quake. The number of injured increased to 3,408, while the missing figure rose to 139.

Rescue efforts are underway especially in the major stricken cities of Mandalay, the country's No. 2 city, and Naypyitaw, the capital. But even though teams and equipment have been flown in from other nations, they are hindered by the airports in those cities being damaged and apparently unfit to land planes.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in the throes of a prolonged civil war, which is already responsible for a humanitarian crisis. It makes movement around the country both difficult and dangerous, complicating relief efforts and raising fears that the death toll could still rise precipitously.

The earthquake struck midday Friday with an epicenter not far from Mandalay, followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4. It sent buildings in many areas toppling to the ground, buckled roads, caused bridges to collapse and burst a dam.

In Naypyidaw, crews worked Saturday to repair damaged roads, while electricity, phone and internet services remained down for most of the city. The earthquake brought down many buildings, including multiple units that housed government civil servants, but that section of the city was blocked off by authorities on Saturday.

In neighboring Thailand, the quake rocked the greater Bangkok area, home to around 17 million people, and other parts of the country.

Bangkok city authorities said the number of confirmed dead was now 10, nine at the site of the collapsed high-rise under construction near the capital's popular Chatuchak market, while 78 people were still unaccounted for. Rescue efforrs were continuing in the hope of finding additional survivors.

On Saturday, more heavy equipment was brought in to move the tons of rubble, but hope was fading among friends and family members of the missing that they would be found alive.

"I was praying that that they had survived but when I got here and saw the ruin — where could they be? In which corner? Are they still alive? I am still praying that all six are alive," said 45-year-old Naruemol Thonglek, sobbing as she awaited news about her partner, who is from Myanmar, and five friends who worked at the site.

Waenphet Panta said she hadn't heard from her daughter Kanlayanee since a phone call about an hour before the quake. A friend told her Kanlayanee had been working high on the building on Friday.

"I am praying my daughter is safe, that she has survived and that she's at the hospital," she said, Kanlayanee's father sitting beside her.

Thai authorities said that the quake and aftershocks were felt in most of the country's provinces. Many places in the north reported damage to residential buildings, hospitals and temples, including in Chiang Mai, but the only casualties were reported in Bangkok

Earthquakes are rare in Bangkok, but relatively common in Myanmar. The country sits on the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south fault that separates the India plate and the Sunda plate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743174433121.jpeg" alt="Rescuers work at the site a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)" />
 <figcaption>Rescuers work at the site a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID RISING and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI &nbsp;Associated PressBANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar's ruling military said Saturday on state television that the confirmed death toll from a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake rose to 1,644, as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the scores of buildings that collapsed when it struck near the country's second-largest city.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, killing at least three people in Bangkok and burying dozens when a high-rise building under construction collapsed. <a href="https://t.co/wOb65quagE">pic.twitter.com/wOb65quagE</a>&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/1905635759484198924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The new total is a sharp rise compared to the 1,002 total announced just hours earlier, underlining the difficulty of confirming casualties over a widespread region and the likelihood that the numbers will continue to grow from Friday's quake. The number of injured increased to 3,408, while the missing figure rose to 139.Rescue efforts are underway especially in the major stricken cities of Mandalay, the country's No. 2 city, and Naypyitaw, the capital. But even though teams and equipment have been flown in from other nations, they are hindered by the airports in those cities being damaged and apparently unfit to land planes.Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in the throes of a prolonged civil war, which is already responsible for a humanitarian crisis. It makes movement around the country both difficult and dangerous, complicating relief efforts and raising fears that the death toll could still rise precipitously.The earthquake struck midday Friday with an epicenter not far from Mandalay, followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4. It sent buildings in many areas toppling to the ground, buckled roads, caused bridges to collapse and burst a dam.In Naypyidaw, crews worked Saturday to repair damaged roads, while electricity, phone and internet services remained down for most of the city. The earthquake brought down many buildings, including multiple units that housed government civil servants, but that section of the city was blocked off by authorities on Saturday.More damage in ThailandIn neighboring Thailand, the quake rocked the greater Bangkok area, home to around 17 million people, and other parts of the country.Bangkok city authorities said the number of confirmed dead was now 10, nine at the site of the collapsed high-rise under construction near the capital's popular Chatuchak market, while 78 people were still unaccounted for. Rescue efforrs were continuing in the hope of finding additional survivors.On Saturday, more heavy equipment was brought in to move the tons of rubble, but hope was fading among friends and family members of the missing that they would be found alive."I was praying that that they had survived but when I got here and saw the ruin — where could they be? In which corner? Are they still alive? I am still praying that all six are alive," said 45-year-old Naruemol Thonglek, sobbing as she awaited news about her partner, who is from Myanmar, and five friends who worked at the site.Waenphet Panta said she hadn't heard from her daughter Kanlayanee since a phone call about an hour before the quake. A friend told her Kanlayanee had been working high on the building on Friday."I am praying my daughter is safe, that she has survived and that she's at the hospital," she said, Kanlayanee's father sitting beside her.Thai authorities said that the quake and aftershocks were felt in most of the country's provinces. Many places in the north reported damage to residential buildings, hospitals and temples, including in Chiang Mai, but the only casualties were reported in BangkokMyanmar sits on a major fault lineEarthquakes are rare in Bangkok, but relatively common in Myanmar. The country sits on the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south fault that separates the India plate and the Sunda plate.Brian Baptie, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, said that the quake caused intense ground shaking in an area where most of the population lives in buildings constructed of timber and unreinforced brick masonry."When you have a large earthquake in an area where there are over a million people, many of them living in vulnerable buildings, the consequences can often be disastrous," he said in a statement.A natural disaster on top of a civil warMyanmar's government said that blood was in high demand in the hardest-hit areas. In a country where prior governments sometimes have been slow to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hlaing said that Myanmar was ready to accept outside assistance.Myanmar's military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and is now involved in a civil war with long-established militias and newly formed pro-democracy ones.Military forces continued their attacks even after the quake, with three airstrikes in northern Kayin state, also called Karenni state, and southern Shan — both of which border Mandalay state, said Dave Eubank, a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who founded the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian aid organization that has provided assistance to both combatants and civilians in Myanmar since the 1990s.Eubank told The Associated Press that in the area he was operating in, most villages have already been destroyed by the military so the earthquake had little impact."People are in the jungle and I was out in the jungle when the earthquake hit — it was powerful, but the trees just moved, that was it for us, so we haven't had a direct impact other than that the Burma army keeps attacking, even after the quake," he said.In northern Shan, an airstrike on a rebel-controlled village just minutes after the earthquake killed seven militia members and damaged five buildings, including a school, Mai Rukow, editor of a Shan-based online media Shwe Phee Myay News Agency, told the AP.Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places are incredibly dangerous or simply impossible for aid groups to reach. More than 3 million people have been displaced by the fighting and nearly 20 million are in need, according to the United Nations."Although a full picture of the damage is still emerging, most of us have never seen such destruction," said Haider Yaqub, Myanmar country director for the NGO Plan International, from Yangon.Control tower at Myanmar airport collapsedSatellite photos from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by the AP show the earthquake toppled the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport as if sheered from its base.Debris lay scattered from the top of the tower, which controlled all air traffic in the capital of Myanmar, the photos showed on Saturday.It wasn't immediately clear if there had been any injuries in the collapse, though the tower would have had staff inside of it at the time of the earthquake Friday.Rescue groups head to MyanmarChina and Russia are the largest suppliers of weapons to Myanmar's military, and were among the first to step in with humanitarian aid.China said it has sent more than 135 rescue personnel and experts along with supplies like medical kits and generators, and pledged around $13.8 million in emergency aid. Hong Kong sent a 51-member team to Myanmar.Russia's Emergencies Ministry said it had flown in 120 rescuers and supplies, and the country's Health Ministry said Moscow had sent a medical team to Myanmar.Other countries like India and South Korea are sending help, and the U.N. allocated $5 million to start relief efforts.U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington was going to help with the response, but some experts were concerned about this effort given his administration's deep cuts in foreign assistance.___Jerry Harmer and Grant Peck in Bangkok, Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Tong-hyung Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.