The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning.
The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern coast of Taiwan at about 1:19pm and the southwestern coast at about 1:31pm.
The CWA's tsunami alerts are categorized into four levels: tsunami warning, tsunami watch, tsunami information and tsunami report.
A tsunami warning is issued when a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake occurs in waters near Taiwan at a shallow depth of less than 35km or when the CWA predicts wave heights of at least 0.3m would arrive at Taiwan's coast within three hours.
Meanwhile, a tsunami watch is issued when wave heights of at least 0.3m are projected to arrive within three to six hours.
A tsunami information statement is issued by the CWA when a tsunami event does not meet the threshold for a warning or watch, but may still cause public concern.
A tsunami report is issued when a tsunami with wave heights exceeding 0.5m is observed along Taiwan's coast, but the event does not meet the criteria for a warning, watch or information statement.
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