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Sea lions dive off cliff after massive earthquake hits Russia’s Kuril islands amid tsunami scare, video emerges

The viral video shows at least 30 Steller sea lions diving into the sea as an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Antsiferov Island.

The Kamchatka Peninsula experienced an 8.8 magnitude earthquake

A massive earthquake that hit Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday triggered dramatic scenes as dozens of sea lions jumped off from cliffs into the surrounding ocean to escape danger. The footage, captured by a tourist out on a nature excursion, is now doing rounds on the Internet.

The viral video shows at least 30 Steller sea lions diving into the sea as an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Antsiferov Island, part of the Kuril Islands chain in the North Pacific.

Watch the video here:

The island hit by the earthquake is home to Steller sea lions, the largest species in the Otariidae family, commonly known as “eared seals,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, the USA Today reported.

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The Kamchatka Peninsula experienced an 8.8 magnitude earthquake at 11:25 local time on Wednesday, prompting tsunami warnings and evacuation orders. According to the BBC, more than two million people have been ordered to evacuate in several parts of Japan, Russia, and the US state of Hawaii.

Also Read | Tsunami strikes Japan and Russia after massive earthquake; terrifying videos show whales washed ashore, strong winds

However, Hawaii authorities downgraded the warnings and orders to an advisory by Wednesday morning. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that the officials have been put in place and are ready to respond to any emergency. “We were fully deployed and ready to respond if necessary but grateful that we didn’t have to deal with the situation that this could have been,” CBS News quotes Noem.

Right after the quake, several videos of its effects emerged on social media. As reported by the Associated Press, Japan’s large northern island of Hokkaido experienced its first tsunami wave of about 30 cm. A video of five beluga whales washed ashore in Kamchatka ahead of the earthquake.