PETROPAVLOVSK‑KAMCHATSKY REGION, RUSSIA – A colossal magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early on July 30, 2025, triggering Pacific-wide tsunami alerts and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate across multiple countries.
Waves reached heights of 3–5 metres along the Kamchatka shoreline, particularly impacting Severo-Kurilsk, where flooding submerged coastal areas and swept vessels from their moorings. In Japan, over 1.9 million people were ordered to evacuate low-lying prefectures. Tsunami swells of up to 1.3 metres were recorded in Iwate, while smaller surges spread across Hokkaido and eastern regions.
In Hawaiʻi, waves measuring 1.3 to 1.7 metres hit islands including Kauaʻi and Maui, prompting evacuations and widespread beach clearing. Initial warnings were later downgraded to advisories as the threat diminished. Along the U.S. West Coast—stretching from Northern California to British Columbia—advisories remained in force even though wave heights rarely exceeded 0.5 metres.
Tremors lasted several minutes in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, disrupting surgeries and causing injuries, though no confirmed fatalities have been reported. The quake remains one of the strongest in decades and ranks among the top six recorded globally since modern seismology.
Scientists emphasize that the magnitude, shallow depth, and tectonic context—within the Pacific “Ring of Fire”—combined to intensify tsunami generation. A 6.9‑magnitude aftershock has already struck, and experts caution that multiple waves and further tremors may follow in the coming hours.
Residents across affected regions are urged to remain vigilant, stay away from coastlines, and avoid assuming the threat has passed, especially as tsunami waves can continue for many hours.
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