A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, setting off a chain of tsunami alerts across the Pacific Rim. The initial tsunami waves quickly reached the coasts of Kamchatka and Japan, prompting widespread evacuations and emergency declarations. In Hawaii, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urged residents in coastal areas to evacuate immediately, while Japan issued alerts for waves potentially reaching up to 3 meters.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake was located 119 kilometers southeast of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and at a depth of 20 kilometers. Multiple aftershocks, including ones measured at magnitudes of 6.9 and 6.3, followed the main quake. The seismic activity triggered immediate tsunami warnings across the region.
President Donald Trump announced that a tsunami warning was in effect for Hawaii, while a tsunami watch was issued for the U.S. Pacific Coast, including Alaska. FEMA emphasized the urgency of evacuation in low-lying coastal zones and advised citizens to follow tsunami evacuation route signs toward higher ground.
In Russia, authorities confirmed that parts of the coastal city of Severo-Kurilsk were submerged due to the tsunami. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry declared it the strongest earthquake in the region since 1952. Although there were no reported casualties, waves flooded parts of the harbor and a fishery facility named Alaid. Residents were promptly evacuated to safety.
Meanwhile, in Japan, NHK reported that waves up to 3 meters high could strike the Pacific coast. Smaller tsunamis were already recorded in ports such as Ishinomaki (50 cm), Tokachi (40 cm), and Erimo (30 cm). The Japan Meteorological Agency held an emergency press conference urging people to move inland and stay away from rivers and coastal areas. Kiyomoto Masashi, an agency official, warned that aftershocks could bring larger waves and that the tsunami threat may persist for hours.
Following these events, the regional administration in Russia’s Sakhalin declared a state of emergency in the Kamchatka area. Governor Valeriy Limarenko led a crisis response meeting and confirmed that emergency teams are working around the clock to secure the area and assist residents.