A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific region. The quake’s epicenter was located about 125 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a major city in Russia’s Far East. Tsunami waves have hit parts of Russia’s Far East and Japan, causing flooding and damage in the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, where approximately 2,000 residents were evacuated.
The tsunami warnings have prompted evacuations and warnings in several countries, including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and the US West Coast. In Japan, tsunami warnings have been issued with waves measuring 30 centimeters observed in northern Japan, and the government expects waves of up to 3 meters. Hawaii has declared a state of emergency, with National Guard troops on standby, while Russia has declared a state of emergency on the northern Kuril Islands.
The US West Coast is also bracing for impact, with tsunami advisories issued and evacuations ordered in some areas, including parts of California. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has confirmed waves are impacting Hawaii, with tsunami activity expected to persist for several hours. Midway Atoll reported a tsunami surge of 3.1 feet, one of the largest recorded in the Northern Pacific.
The earthquake, considered one of the strongest in the region since 1952, has resulted in at least six aftershocks, including one of 6.9 magnitude and another of 6.3 magnitude. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, urging people to take necessary precautions as the international community responds to the disaster.
