A powerful undersea earthquake measuring 8.8 in magnitude rocked the Pacific region early Wednesday morning, triggering widespread tsunami warnings. The seismic event occurred at 8:25 a.m. local time in Japan (11:25 p.m. GMT on Tuesday), with the epicenter located around 120 km off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, Russia, at a depth of 20 km.
Tsunami Warnings Across the Pacific
The earthquake prompted immediate tsunami alerts in Japan, Russia, Hawaii, and other Pacific territories. In Japan, over 900,000 residents were instructed to evacuate to higher ground as waves as high as 3 meters were anticipated. Fortunately, only smaller waves have been recorded so far, with the highest being 1.3 meters, and no significant damage has been reported.
In Russia, the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka bore the brunt of the impact, experiencing waves up to 5 meters in Severo-Kurilsk, causing port flooding and necessitating the preventive evacuation of approximately 2,000 people.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts stretching from Russia to Ecuador, putting Hawaii on high alert. In Hawaii, emergency protocols and precautionary evacuations were activated, although wave heights remained moderate, around 1 meter, with no major damage recorded.
Evacuations and Reported Impacts
In Russia, minor structural damage and light injuries due to panic during the quake were reported. As for Japan and Hawaii, while the alert status is still active, there have been no significant damage reports or casualties so far.
Authorities in Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia have issued precautionary advisories for their coastlines in anticipation of possible sea-level changes.
Experts caution that a tsunami can produce multiple waves over several hours, so alerts will remain in effect until the threat has conclusively passed.
Last updated: July 30, 2025, 09:00 CEST (07:00 GMT).
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), United States Geological Survey (USGS), Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Kamchatka Regional Government, NHK (Japanese public television)
Understanding Tsunami Alerts and Precautions
What caused the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in the Pacific?
The earthquake was caused by tectonic plate movements beneath the Pacific Ocean near the Russian peninsula of Kamchatka.
How are tsunami warnings issued?
Tsunami warnings are issued by monitoring agencies like the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based on seismic data and potential wave impact areas.
What areas are most at risk from tsunamis?
Coastal regions near the Pacific Ocean, such as Japan, Russia's Far East, and Hawaii, are particularly vulnerable to tsunamis following major earthquakes.