Tsunami warnings issued across the Pacific following Kamchatka quake

A massive magnitude-8.7 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025, marking the strongest quake in the area since 1952. The quake triggered over 30 aftershocks and caused tsunami alerts across the Pacific region. In Russia, tsunami waves as high as 3 to 4 meters hit the Yelizovo coast, leading to flooding in Severo-Kurilsk. About 2,700 people, including nearly 600 children, were evacuated from the Kuril Islands, and a state of emergency was declared. Although coastal infrastructure was affected, no casualties were reported. One person was slightly injured at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport, but airport operations soon resumed.

Japan issued tsunami warnings for Iwate, Hokkaido, and Miyagi prefectures, with waves reaching up to 1.3 meters. Residents were advised to evacuate to higher ground. The United States Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for Hawaii and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, and advisories for California, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and American Samoa. In Hawaii, waves reached 1.7 meters, emergency sirens were activated, and flights and marine operations were suspended.

China issued a yellow tsunami alert, predicting coastal wave heights of around 0.3 meters, which are not expected to cause damage. However, warnings remained in place for Taiwan’s east coast due to the effects of Typhoon Co-May, while alerts for Zhejiang and Shanghai were lifted. Several other countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador, and Peru, also issued tsunami advisories, urging people to stay away from coastal areas and follow official safety instructions.

Credit: CGTN