A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuations across the Pacific region. The quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 19.3 kilometers, was centered about 119 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. A 6.9-magnitude aftershock followed soon after.

The seismic jolt sent waves of up to 4 meters crashing into coastal areas of Russia, notably the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, which was fully evacuated. It is reported to be the most powerful earthquake to hit the region since the catastrophic 1952 Severo-Kurilsk quake.

Tsunami waves were also observed in Japan, with the first reaching the northern coast of Hokkaido. Although initial waves measured around 30 centimeters, authorities warned that they could reach up to 3 meters, prompting evacuation orders in coastal zones. Train services in northern Japan were briefly suspended, and precautionary evacuations were carried out at the Fukushima nuclear plant, though no damage was reported.

In Hawaii, sirens were activated and coastal areas were cleared after tsunami warnings projected wave arrivals around 7:17 p.m. local time. Emergency shelters were opened across the state.

President Trump posted a statement urging preparedness along the U.S. West Coast, where tsunami advisories were issued for California, Oregon, Washington, and parts of Alaska.

Other regions under warning or advisory included Guam, the Solomon Islands, Chile, Ecuador, and parts of Australia and New Zealand. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that while the country was on a tsunami advisory list, there was no direct threat to the mainland.

Despite the scale of the quake and the wide-reaching tsunami alerts, no fatalities have been reported. Minor injuries and some structural damage were recorded in Kamchatka, including to a local kindergarten. Authorities credited early warning systems and swift evacuations for minimizing human casualties.

The earthquake occurred along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone prone to powerful earthquakes and volcanic activity. Seismologists noted that such a large quake near Kamchatka was likely caused by subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.

Tsunami warnings remain in place for several Pacific locations as authorities monitor wave activity and continue evacuation efforts.