Massive 8.8 Earthquake Triggers Tsunami, Striking Japan and Russia

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, leading to a tsunami that hit coastal areas in Russia’s Kuril Islands and Japan’s Hokkaido. Tsunami warnings and evacuation orders were issued across the Pacific – including in Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast, Canada, and New Zealand.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, waves as high as 40 centimeters (about 1.3 feet) have been reported in 16 locations, moving south along Japan’s Pacific coast from Hokkaido to areas just northeast of Tokyo. Officials are cautioning residents, suggesting that larger waves could follow.

In the Russian regions closest to where the earthquake hit, some damage and evacuations have been recorded, especially on the Kamchatka Peninsula. American officials have issued a tsunami advisory for parts of Alaska, while in Japan, authorities raised their tsunami warning, anticipating waves could reach up to three meters (approximately 9.8 feet). The waves are expected to arrive between 10:00 am and 11:30 am local time.

Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov shared that this earthquake is among the strongest they’ve experienced in many years. So far, there have been no reports of injuries, though some damage occurred to a kindergarten. Evacuations have been ordered in the small town of Severo-Kurilsk due to the tsunami threat, according to Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko.

Reports from Russia’s emergency services indicate that a tsunami wave measuring up to 32 centimeters (about 1 foot) could reach the coast. The Japan Weather Agency expects a wave as tall as 1 meter (3.3 feet) to impact larger coastal areas starting around 1:00 am GMT.

Additionally, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System has warned that hazardous waves could reach parts of Russia and Japan within the next three hours. A tsunami watch is also in effect for Guam and other islands in Micronesia. This region, known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, is notorious for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.