Newscast Tsunami Warnings Across the Pacific
10 snips
Jul 30, 2025 
Rebecca Bell, an expert in tectonics from Imperial College London, joins to discuss the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's coast. Shaimaa Khalil, the BBC’s Tokyo Correspondent, shares live updates, highlighting significant evacuations in Japan. Victoria Gill, BBC Science Correspondent, explains tsunami formation and the mechanics involved. The conversation also touches on advancements in tsunami warning systems and urban safety in earthquake-prone regions, stressing the importance of disaster preparedness.
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Megathrust Earthquakes Explained
- Megathrust earthquakes occur where two tectonic plates converge and one is subducted under the other.
- These quakes are massive and often trigger tsunamis by displacing large volumes of ocean water.
Moment Magnitude Scale Use
- Moment magnitude scale measures earthquake energy based on fault slip area and displacement.
- Unlike the Richter scale, it accurately quantifies very large earthquakes above magnitude 8.
Japan Tsunami Evacuation Experience
- Shaimaa Khalil experienced being woken by tsunami alerts in Japan during the earthquake.
- Residents evacuated beaches and moved to higher ground, with some caught in traffic jams amid summer holidays.