Russia quake: Brave doctors continue surgery amid tremors, video from OR goes viral as Internet salutes 'frontline warriors’

Tsunami waves have hit parts of Russia, Japan, and the United States after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s eastern coast on Wednesday July 30. Alerts have been issued across the Pacific, including for the Philippines, Ecuador, and several Pacific islands, as authorities warn of more hazardous waves later in the day.


According to Sergei Lebedev, the regional minister for emergency situations, waves as high as four meters (13 feet) have already reached Russia’s Kamchatka region. Russia’s RIA Novosti reported that in the town of Severo-Kurilsk, located in the northern Kuril Islands, waves exceeded three meters (9.8 feet), with the highest wave recorded at five meters (16.4 feet).

The Russian Ministry of Emergencies and Disaster Relief confirmed that the seaport town of Severo-Kurilsk has been flooded, forcing the evacuation of nearly 2,000 residents. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the North Kuril District. District Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov assured, “All the people are in the tsunami safety zone.”

Many users are sharing real-time updates, videos, and reactions on Twitter, expressing concern and shock over the powerful earthquake and its aftermath. One user shared a series of shocking videos capturing the aftermath, including a clip showing four whales washed up on Japan’s coast after the powerful earthquake.


Videos of the tsunami’s impact continued to surface online as users posted footage of buildings underwater and roads flooded, calling the scenes “unreal” and “devastating.”






Another user shared a video showing a surgical team refusing to leave the operating room as tremors shook the ground beneath them.


What is a Tsunami?

A tsunami is a giant ocean wave that forms when there's a sudden shift on the ocean floor. This often happens during strong earthquakes when parts of the seabed move suddenly, or when large underwater landslides occur. As the waves move toward the shore and the water becomes shallower, they grow taller, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

As per the latest updates, the US weather agency has lifted the tsunami threat for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan after the 8.8 quake near Russia. Minor sea changes may still occur.