“8.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE TRIGGERS TSUNAMI IN RUSSIA—DESTRUCTIVE WAVES THREATEN JAPAN, HAWAII, AND CALIFORNIA, WITH RUSSIA REELING FROM INJURIES!” 😱🌊

A catastrophic 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia’s Far East has triggered a devastating tsunami, sparking urgent tsunami warnings for Hawaii, Japan, and California. As the waves approach, authorities are on high alert for “destructive tsunami waves” that could wreak havoc along the Pacific coastline.

Meanwhile, in Russia, the shock has left several injured, with locals seeking medical attention as aftershocks continue to rock the region.

What’s next for the Pacific, and how are countries bracing for impact? The situation is evolving rapidly—find out what’s happening next! Full details below 👇👇👇

Several people in Russia are said to have sought medical assistance following the earthquake, while Hawaiians were warned to expect “destructive tsunami waves”.

Wednesday 30 July 2025 14:46, UK

Tsunami warnings were in effect for Japan, parts of the US, including Hawaii, California and Alaska, as well as the Philippines.

The Klyuchevskoi volcano also began erupting in Russia’s far east, according to the Kamchatka Branch of Geophysical Survey.

Waves some 30cm above tide levels were observed in the Alaskan communities of Amchitka and Adak, said Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska.

Image:The aftermath of tsunami hitting the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk. Pic: Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences via AP

Image:Damage caused to a building in Russia following the earthquake. Pic: AP
In Crescent City, California, which has seen dozens of tsunamis since the 1930s, officials warned people to stay away from beaches and waterways.

The US National Weather Service’s Eureka office reported tsunami waves with a maximum height of 1.1m (3.6ft) in the area, which is enough to create minor coastal flooding and inundation.

 

British tourist told tsunami was ‘three hours away’

Nearly two million people were also placed under evacuation advisories in more than 220 municipalities along Japan’s Pacific coast, the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake was shallow at a depth of 19.3km (12 miles), and was centred about 125km (80 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000 along the coast of Avacha Bay. It revised the magnitude up twice from 8.0 and 8.7 to 8.8 earlier.

Image:People gathered on top of a building in Japan after the tsunami warning was issued. Pic: AP
Damage and injuries in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

Kamchatka governor Vladimir Solodov had earlier said: “Today’s earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades [in terms] of tremors.”

Several people in the region sought medical assistance following the quake, Oleg Melnikov, the regional health minister, told Russia’s Tass state news agency.

“Unfortunately, there are some people injured during the seismic event. Some were hurt while running outside, and one patient jumped out of a window. A woman was also injured inside the new airport terminal.”

Image:Waves off the coast of the Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan after the tsunami warning was issued. Pic: AP
Tass reported from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, claiming that many people ran out into the street, while cabinets toppled inside homes, mirrors were broken, cars swayed on roads and balconies on buildings shook noticeably.

Power outages and mobile phone service failures were also reported.

Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said regional authorities were well-prepared and that the warnings were issued in time, so residents were quickly evacuated from dangerous areas.

‘Significant, noticeable’ aftershocks to continue for at least a month

The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia’s Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to local governor Valery Limarenko.

He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone.

A regional branch of Russia’s geophysical service said “significant, noticeable” aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 7.5 were expected to continue for at least another month.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s disaster management agency warned the country’s coastal areas could expect “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore”.

In a national advisory alert, Civil Defence New Zealand said there was no immediate need to evacuate, but warned that citizens should stay away from beaches and shore areas.