Tsunami warning sparks evacuations in Japan and US after powerful Russia earthquake

July 30, 2025

A powerful 8. 8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean, prompting evacuations from Russia to Japan, Hawaii, and the US West Coast. Despite being one of the ten most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, there have been no initial reports of severe damage or injuries.

Who is affected

Coastal residents across the Pacific region
2,000 people in Severo-Kurilsk, Russia
Nearly two million people in Japan's Iwate prefecture who were told to evacuate
Thousands of evacuated residents in Hawaii
Coastal communities in California and the US West Coast
Residents in British Columbia, Canada
People in French Polynesia, particularly in the Marquesas Islands
Coastal populations in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu
Residents in Taiwan and Peru

What action is being taken

Thousands of people are evacuating to higher ground across multiple countries
Authorities are monitoring wave activity and issuing/updating tsunami warnings
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is managing the return of evacuated residents
The Sakhalin region has declared a state of emergency in northern Kuril islands
Japanese authorities are downgrading tsunami warnings to advisories in many areas
Officials in British Columbia are advising residents to avoid ocean areas
Peruvian officials are maintaining "constant surveillance" of the situation

Why it matters

The earthquake ranks as one of the ten most powerful ever recorded, tied as the sixth most severe in history
Tsunami waves of this magnitude can be life-threatening, as emphasized by Hawaii's Governor Josh Green
The widespread impact demonstrates the interconnected nature of Pacific coastal regions during seismic events
The event has affected critical infrastructure, including power grids in Russia and prompted evacuation of Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant
The international response showcases the global tsunami warning system in action

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC