A powerful earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia has triggered tsunami warnings for a large part of the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii, and the west coast of the United States, the AP reported.
Japan and Hawaii have ordered evacuations. The Fukushima nuclear plant, damaged in the 2011 tsunami, has halted the discharge of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
A state of emergency has been declared in the Severo-Kurilsk district of the Sakhalin region of Russia due to the earthquake and tsunami, the regional government announced. The earthquake, measuring 8.7 degrees on the Richter scale, occurred early this morning off the coast of Kamchatka, making it the strongest tremor in that region since 1952, RTS reports, citing Ria Novosti.
Severo-Kurilsk, a town in the Sakhalin region, is partially flooded after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The local Department of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring recorded a tsunami wave up to four meters high in the region.
Tsunami and Strongest Earthquake in 70 Years Hit Kamchatka and Sakhalin
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) July 30, 2025
An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7, the strongest on Kamchatka since 1952, caused destruction and triggered a tsunami.
Aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude are expected for up to a month. The earthquake… pic.twitter.com/31aSAkzY0o
The third, most powerful tsunami wave, tore ships from their moorings in the port, which was flooded along with a local fishing enterprise. Several people sought medical attention, a wall collapsed in one of the kindergartens on the peninsula, and no one was there at the time of the incident.
According to the Kamchatka Ministry of Health, all injured individuals are in satisfactory condition with no serious injuries. Kamchatka has already recorded 30 more tremors with an intensity of 2-5 degrees on the Richter scale, and aftershocks are possible within a month, including those up to 7.5 degrees magnitude, the seismological service announced.
A tsunami warning has been issued for almost the entire eastern coast of Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as Hawaii and several US states on the west coast.
As CNN reports, more than 1.9 million people across Japan have been urged to evacuate to safer locations, as tsunami surges hit various parts of the coast.
Whales washed ashore in Japan after the tsunami.
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) July 30, 2025
Local residents are trying to assist the animals. https://t.co/nvAmvpijnC pic.twitter.com/f89lQuHsU1
The first waves hit Hawaii as the islands prepare for possible tsunamis up to 3 meters above normal levels – and other countries around the Pacific Ocean are preparing, with some already feeling the effects.
In Russia, the earthquake off the country’s eastern coast damaged some buildings, including a collapsed kindergarten – although there were no injuries. Tsunami waves began to arrive shortly thereafter, with several hitting the Severo-Kurilsk district on the southern tip of Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka.
The district has declared a state of emergency, according to the state agency TASS, citing local authorities. Videos show water surging between buildings, damaging industrial infrastructure, and carrying away large amounts of debris.
In Japan, tsunami waves are already hitting many parts of the eastern coast, from the northernmost island of Hokkaido to most of the main island of Honshu – including the area near Tokyo. So far, waves are reaching heights of up to 60 centimeters – significantly less than the initially predicted three meters.
In other parts of the Pacific, many countries have also issued tsunami warnings, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Taiwan.
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Source: Danas; Photo: Printscreen X