Taiwan issues tsunami alert after magnitude 8.7 quake strikes off Russia's coast

Taipei, July 30 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Wednesday 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 7:25 a.m. (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19 kilometers, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18 p.m. Wednesday.

The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1 meter could hit the southeastern coast of Taiwan around 1:19 p.m. and the southwestern coast at approximately 1:31 p.m.

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 7.0 or greater earthquake occurs in waters near Taiwan at a shallow depth of less than 35 kilometers or when the CWA predicts wave heights of at least 0.3 meters would arrive at Taiwan's coast within three hours.

Meanwhile, a tsunami watch is issued when wave heights of at least 0.3 meters are projected to arrive within 3-6 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 0.5 meters is observed along Taiwan's coast, but the event does not meet the criteria for a warning, watch, or information statement.