Taipei: Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a “tsunami watch” alert following a magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia. The tremor occurred at 7:25 a.m. (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19 kilometers, based on figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

According to Focus Taiwan, preliminary assessments from the CWA’s Seismological Center indicate the potential for a tsunami to reach Taiwan’s coastal areas by 1:18 p.m. Residents along the coast have been advised to remain alert and take necessary precautions, as waves up to 1 meter high could impact the southeastern coast around 1:19 p.m. and the southwestern coast by approximately 1:31 p.m.

The CWA categorizes tsunami alerts into four levels: tsunami warning, tsunami watch, tsunami information, and tsunami report. A tsunami warning is triggered by a magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquake near Taiwan in shallow waters or when predicted wave heights of 0.3 meters or more are expected to reach the coast within three hours. A tsunami watch is issued when such wave heights are projected to arrive within 3-6 hours.

A tsunami information statement is provided when a tsunami event does not warrant a warning or watch but may still raise public concern. A tsunami report is given when wave heights exceed 0.5 meters, yet do not fulfill the criteria for a warning, watch, or information statement.