Dramatic CCTV footage has emerged showing ceilings collapsing and buildings shaking violently as one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history struck Russia’s far east last week.

The video, released by the regional administration of Severo-Kurilsk on Wednesday (6 August), shows the sheer force of the tremors — from swaying street lamps to debris crashing down indoors.

The magnitude 8.8 earthquake, which hit at 11:25 a.m. local time on 30 July, originated off the Kamchatka Peninsula and was ranked as the sixth strongest quake in recorded history. The seismic event triggered a massive tsunami, scattering debris across roads and prompting an urgent global response.

Tsunami warnings and evacuation orders were issued to communities worldwide, with more than two million people urged to flee coastal areas for safety. Cleanup and restoration efforts are now underway, but the quake has left a lasting mark on the region and beyond.