A powerful earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered tsunamis in Russia and Japan, with hazardous waves possible in Hawaii, Alaska, and other parts of the Pacific
An 8.8-magnitude earthquake, followed by multiple powerful aftershocks, struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, triggering tsunami alerts across several coastal regions in the northern Pacific.
The jolt, which occurred around 11:30am local time approximately 136 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, was the strongest earthquake in the area since 1952, according to the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The first tsunami waves have already reached the shoreline of Severo-Kurilsk, a town in the northern Kuril Islands. Local authorities ordered the evacuation of the town’s population to elevated areas away from the coast.
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Powerful earthquake in Russia’s Far East sparks tsunami alerts (VIDEOS)
Waves measuring around 30 centimeters were also observed along the coastline of Hokkaido in northern Japan, according to NHK, with authorities warning that subsequent waves could be higher.
The US National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami advisory for the entire US West Coast, as well as parts of Canada and Alaska. Tsunami advisories are also in effect for the entire state of Hawaii.
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30 July 2025
03:49 GMT
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency has issued evacuation advisories to more than 900,000 people across 133 coastal municipalities from Hokkaido to Okinawa, according to the Associated Press. It remains unclear how many residents have taken shelter. So far, no injuries or damages have been reported, officials said.
- 03:40 GMT
Emergency officials speaking at a press conference in Honolulu said Hawaii is “a couple of hours away from any impact,” and urged residents to “pay attention” and monitor official alerts closely. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has urged residents to «stay calm.»
“If you are in a low-lying area, please get to higher ground,” Green said in a live address. “The roads are full – I ask that people stay calm, cooperate, and get to higher ground. If you are in a safe place, please stay there.”
- 03:36 GMT
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has advised residents along the country’s Pacific coast to avoid beaches and coastal areas. Tsunami waves under one meter in height are expected to arrive between 1:20pm and 2:40pm local time (0620–0740 GMT Thursday), the agency said. People in the affected provinces are urged not to go near the shore and to follow further instructions from local authorities.
- 03:12 GMT
Several people were injured in Russia’s Kamchatka, according to regional health minister Oleg Melnikov. While the exact number of injured remains unclear, Melnikov said that most victims sustained trauma while fleeing buildings during the tremors. One patient jumped out of a hospital window, and a woman was injured inside the newly built terminal of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport.
- 03:07 GMT
Drone footage of the flooded coastal areas of Severo-Kurilsk has been shared online by the Russian Geophysical Service.
- 03:03 GMT
A tidal rise of approximately one foot was recorded near Amchitka Island in Alaska, CNN reported, citing US monitoring data. This marks the first confirmed tsunami observation in the United States following the powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.
- 02:47 GMT
AIS tracks of Japanese fishing vessels rapidly evacuating port for the safety of deeper water earlier today as tsunami warnings were announced. Via @MarineTrafficpic.twitter.com/VcWccZKz3t
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) July 30, 2025
- 02:27 GMT
The US Geological Survey has revised its preliminary estimate of the earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka to a magnitude of 8.8 – a figure that, if confirmed, would place it among the ten strongest ever recorded. The initial jolt was followed by at least 14 powerful aftershocks, measuring between 5.1 and 6.9.
- 02:08 GMT
Officials in Hawaii have ordered an “immediate evacuation” of some coastal areas, including the state capital Honolulu. “Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves are expected,” Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management said in a post on X.
LISTEN 📢🚨: Sirens blaring in Wailea Beach, Maui amid ongoing tsunami threat for Hawaii. Entire West Coast of U.S. on alert. Stay with FOX Weather for live coverage #weather#tsunami#alertVideo credit: Jenny Welch pic.twitter.com/7v3LrG4l6q
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) July 30, 2025
HNL Alert: 04:11 PM 07-29-2025 — HNL Alert: Tsunami Warning remains in effect — Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected. Tsunami refuge areas available. EVACUATE coastal areas in PRIMARY EVACUATION ZONE. Map: https://t.co/HOBzCPgLO7pic.twitter.com/YqrXpZ8dHI
— Oahu Emergency Mgmt. (@Oahu_DEM) July 30, 2025
- 01:44 GMT
Footage shared by local media and officials showed water reaching parts of the shoreline in the Russian coastal town of Severo-Kurilskand as tsunami sirens blared. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the Alaid plant fish processing plant in Severo-Kurilsk has been submerged with all employees urgently evacuated from the facility.
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