Russia earthquake: Tsunami reaches US shores; Hawaii braces for 10-ft waves
The 8.8-magnitude quake that caused a tsunami in the northern Pacific region prompted warnings for Alaska, Hawaii, and other coasts south toward New Zealand
Tsunami waves have started hitting shores in the United States after tsunami warnings were issued for countries across the Pacific and the US Pacific coasts following one of the world’s strongest earthquakes struck Russia’s Far East early Wednesday (July 30).
The quake at 8.25 am Japan time had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, Japan and US seismologists said. The US Geological Survey later updated its measurement to 8.8 magnitude and the USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 20.7 kms.
The quake was centred about 119 km east-southeast from the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000, on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Multiple aftershocks as strong as 6.9 magnitude were recorded.
The 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused a tsunami in the northern Pacific region prompted warnings for Alaska, Hawaii, and other coasts south toward New Zealand. The first tsunami waves began hitting Alaska and Hawaii. Several locations advised evacuations, but no major injuries have been reported.
Also read:
Earthquakes don't kill, weak buildings do
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Live Updates
- 30 July 2025 4:22 PM IST
Preventive measures during a tsunami – key points
The Russian earthquake and resultant tsunami have rekindled fear in people in coastal areas. Those who witnessed the 2004 tsunami know how devastating it can be.
Though it's a natural phenomenon and often catches people unawares, here are some measures we can take if there is a tsunami alert in our region:
Move to higher ground immediately: As soon as a tsunami warning is issued or you feel a strong earthquake near the coast, evacuate to elevated areas without waiting for official alerts.
Avoid the shoreline: Stay away from beaches, harbours, and low-lying coastal areas, even if waves seem small or have already receded.
Follow official alerts: Listen to local authorities, radio, or tsunami alert systems for evacuation orders and updates.
Do not return too soon: Wait for official “all clear” signals; tsunamis often come in multiple waves over several hours.
Have an emergency kit ready: Include essentials like water, food, flashlight, first aid, important documents, and communication devices.
Know your evacuation route: Be familiar with the fastest route to safe zones if you live in or are visiting a tsunami-prone area.
Educate and practise: Regular community drills and awareness help ensure a quick and organised response.
- 30 July 2025 4:17 PM IST
What triggers tsunamis? How are they formed?
Most people think only severe earthquakes trigger tsunamis, but this is not true. Tsunamis are triggered by the following causes:
Undersea earthquakes: Most common cause; tectonic plate movement displaces the seafloor, pushing water upward.
Volcanic eruptions: Sudden volcanic activity (especially underwater) can displace water and trigger tsunamis.
Landslides: Coastal or underwater landslides caused by earthquakes or volcanic activity can displace large water volumes.
Glacial calving: Large ice masses breaking off glaciers into oceans can create localized tsunami waves.
Meteorite impacts: Rare, but large meteorites hitting oceans can generate massive waves.
Sudden water displacement: All causes involve rapid vertical displacement of large water masses, leading to wave propagation.
- 30 July 2025 4:02 PM IST
No threat to India following 8.7 magnitude quake in Russia
There is no tsunami threat to the Indian coast following the 8.7 magnitude earthquake off the East Coast of Kamchatka in Russia, the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) said on Wednesday. "Based on pre-run model scenarios, there is no threat to India," the centre said in a bulletin issued in the morning.
No further bulletins will be issued by ITEWC-INCOIS unless other information becomes available, it said.
The ITEWC-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is located at Pragati Nagar in Hyderabad.
- 30 July 2025 3:58 PM IST
Hawaii, parts of Japan downgrade tsunami warnings to advisories
Hawaii and parts of Japan have downgraded their tsunami warnings to advisories after a powerful earthquake.
One of the strongest quakes ever recorded struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday. It sent tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii, and across the Pacific.
No substantial damage has been reported so far, but authorities have warned people away from shorelines and stated that the risk could persist for more than a day.
Japan's Meteorological Agency downgraded its tsunami alert to an advisory in the Pacific coast south of Fukushima, with the alert still in place farther north.
Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, the Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense, said an advisory means there is the potential for strong currents and dangerous waves, as well as flooding on beaches or in harbours.
- 30 July 2025 3:54 PM IST
20 years of Boxing Day tsunami: Are we ready to prevent a repeat?
It was the tale of Hamaguchi in school textbooks that introduced many Indian kids to the word “tsunami”. It was terrible, but something distant that happened in another part of the world, we thought, until Boxing Day 2004 changed everything. Suddenly, tsunami was very real; it had hit our home.
Yes, it’s been 20 years since one of the deadliest earthquakes hit Indonesia, and the resultant tsunamis left more than 226,000 people dead across 14 countries, including India, and displaced 1.6 million.
Here’s a recap of what happened on Dec 26, 2004, and an estimate of what would happen if a natural disaster of a similar scale were to strike today. Read it here.
- 30 July 2025 3:52 PM IST
Gave birth to son 'Tsunami' in snake-infested jungle: Woman recalls 2004 calamity
Namita Roy was just 26 years old when she gave birth to her son, 'Tsunami', in a snake-infested jungle where she and her family took shelter after deadly waves triggered by a massive earthquake devoured her home in Hut Bay Island in Andaman and Nicobar on this day in 2004.
Twenty years later, she remembers the day with a shudder.
- 30 July 2025 3:28 PM IST
Why a Japanese comic book’s tsunami prophecy sparked panic
Last month, rumours were circulating online about a massive tsunami expected to strike Japan on July 5, 2025, inspired by a 2021 comic book titled The Future I Saw by Ryo Tatsuki, often referred to as the “New Baba Vanga.”
The prediction, based on a dream, describes a devastating disaster set to occur on that date, fuelling widespread panic on social media. The 'prediction' missed the date, but a quake and tsunami did hit several parts of the world, including Japan, today.
- 30 July 2025 3:17 PM IST
Strongest quake in Kamchatka since 1952
The quake was the strongest to hit this area in the Kamchatka Peninsula since 1952, according to the local branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
They said that while the situation “was under control” there are risks of aftershocks, which could last for up to a month and warned against visiting certain coastal areas.
Earlier in July, five powerful quakes — the largest with a magnitude of 7.4 — struck in the sea near Kamchatka. The largest quake was at a depth of 20 kms and was 144 kms east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
On November 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka caused damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-metre waves in Hawaii. - 30 July 2025 3:16 PM IST
Philippines, New Zealand issue warnings
Philippine authorities warned provinces and towns along the archipelago's eastern coast facing the Pacific of possible tsunami waves of less than 1 metre and advised people to stay away from the beach and coastal areas.
“It may not be the largest of waves, but these can continue for hours and expose people swimming in the waters to danger,” Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told The Associated Press.
New Zealand authorities issued warnings of “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges” along coastlines throughout the country. The government emergency management agency said people should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas, and away from harbours, marinas, rivers, and estuaries.
New Zealand is in the South Pacific and about 9,600 kms from the epicentre.
