HONOLULU / KAMCHATKA – A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, generating tsunami waves up to 5 meters high and triggering evacuation orders across Hawaii and several Pacific nations on July 30.
The shallow earthquake caused structural damage and injuries in remote parts of eastern Russia. In Japan, especially along the eastern coastline that suffered devastating impacts in the 2011 quake and tsunami, evacuations were ordered once again.
In the U.S. state of Hawaii, coastal residents were ordered to evacuate to higher ground or seek shelter on the fourth floor or above. The U.S. Coast Guard directed vessels to leave ports ahead of the tsunami’s expected arrival. As of 06:00 UTC (1:00 PM Thailand time), the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported waves between 1 and 1.2 meters hitting Hawaiian shores. Governor Josh Green confirmed that no large waves had struck the islands yet, though all inbound and outbound flights were suspended.
In Kamchatka, tsunami waves flooded parts of the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, damaging docks and fish processing plants, and dragging boats from their moorings. Russian scientists described the quake as the strongest in the region since 1952.
Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported minor damage to a kindergarten but said most buildings remained structurally sound. No serious injuries or fatalities were confirmed at the time of reporting.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at a depth of 19.3 kilometers, with its epicenter located 119 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000 people. Residents there described minutes-long tremors.
Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal cities across Japan, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands. TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant—which suffered a meltdown in 2011—evacuated staff as a precaution.
Footage aired by Japan’s NHK showed people on Hokkaido rooftops and fishing vessels rushing out of port. Kyodo News reported that Nissan Motor Company temporarily halted operations at several factories to ensure worker safety. Officials confirmed three tsunami waves had reached Japan, with the highest at 1.3 meters. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there were no injuries, damage, or abnormalities at nuclear facilities.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves exceeding 3 meters were possible along parts of Russia, northern Hawaii, and Ecuador. Other areas, including Japan, Chile, and the Solomon Islands, were warned to expect waves between 1 and 3 meters.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media acknowledging the major Pacific quake and noted tsunami alerts for Hawaii, with monitoring in Alaska and along the U.S. Pacific coast.
In Severo-Kurilsk, located in the Kuril Islands south of Kamchatka, Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov reported four tsunami waves had already passed, the largest reaching 5 meters. He urged residents to assess damage to their homes. (TNA)
