Experts bust common myth on safest place to be during an earthquake as record-breaking quake forces millions to evacuate

Experts have busted a common myth on earthquake safety, as an 8.8-magnitude tremor hit Russia earlier today (30 July).

For those not up to date with the news, the powerful quake sent tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and across the Pacific.

It was the strongest anywhere in the world since the Japan 2011 earthquake which had a magnitude of 9.0. It was also the joint-sixth strongest quake ever recorded on Earth.

Thankfully, no substantial damage or fatalities have been reported so far, but authorities have warned people away from shorelines and said the risk could last more than a day.

Since this morning, Japan’s Meteorological Agency has downgraded its tsunami alert to an advisory in the Pacific coast south of Fukushima, while the alert is still in place further north.

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Stephen Logan, the Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii department of defence, said an advisory means there is the potential for strong currents and dangerous waves, as well as flooding on beaches or in harbours.

People are being reminded of earthquake safety after an 8.8 magnitude quake struck today (Anadolu / Getty Images)

When the warnings began coming in across the world earlier today, the question of what to do in a situation like this inevitably arose.

Panicked people with warnings and advisories in their areas have flocked to social media to brush up on earthquake and tsunami safety.

Some have begun questioning where the safest place to be is, with one X user asking: “Honest question, is it safer inside or outside in these instances?”

Another person replied: “Depends if you live in an apartment or a house, how they are constructed and if they have some kind of structural instability, but usually because of power lines and glasses it's better to stay inside.”

Someone else chimed in with: “If you have a place that has underground powerlines, or has lots of wide-open space with nothing that can topple nearby then going outside is safer.

“If you're in an urban area though then being inside a sturdily built structure with overhead cover is safer.”

Meanwhile, a third added: “I would say inside. If you're outside, you run the risk of being hit with downed power lines or worse.”

The earthquake led to tsunami warnings and advisories in places like Japan and Hawaii (Getty Stock Image)

As debates like this are sparking online, it’s of course important to remember that there is official guidance readily available that will tell you exactly what to do.

And it turns out that rather than deliberately heading inside or outside, the safest thing to do in most cases is actually to just remain where you are.

A document from experts at the Washington State Military Department outlines that when an earthquake happens, for most people a flight or fight instinct will kick in, urging you to run.

However, this is exactly what you shouldn’t do - instead you need to remain where you are and ‘drop, cover and hold on’.

The advice reads: “If you are on your feet trying to move in an earthquake, you are in danger of being thrown to the ground and/or injured from toppling book cases, breaking windows, flying dishes, falling TVs, collapsing fireplaces or shifting furniture.

“Safety comes from quickly stopping or moving to a place of safety. Facades of buildings or glass from windows can be falling and injure those running out during an event.”

You should firstly drop where you are, onto your hands and knees.

Experts have urged that in most cases you should ignore your instinct telling you to run and instead remain where you are (YUICHI YAMAZAKI / Getty Images)

If you’re indoors and a sturdy table or desk is nearby, you can crawl underneath it for shelter and hold on - if no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall away from the window.

Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand and hold on to the piece of furniture or yourself until the shaking stops.

The advice warns: “Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Most injuries during earthquakes occur when people are hit by falling objects while entering or leaving buildings. Don’t run outside when the ground is shaking!”

If you find yourself outside when an earthquake begins, you should remain there but make sure to move away from buildings, trees, streetlights and utility wires.

Proceed with caution once the shaking has stopped, watching for road and bridge damage and ensure you stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines.

If you're in a coastal area and there is risk of a tsunami following the quake, you should get to high ground as quickly as possible.

You can find the BBC’s full guidance on earthquakes here.