8.8 magnitude earthquake hits near Russia, Japan & Hawaii issue tsunami evacuation orders

On Jul. 30, an earthquake of 8.8 magnitude struck Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, causing a tsunami with a height of up to 4m in the remote area.

It also triggered tsunami alerts in Japan, the U.S., and several Pacific islands.

The quake was previously recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey to be a magnitude of 8.7, BBC reported.

The governor of Kamchatka, Vladimir Solodov, called the quake "the strongest in decades of tremors", as quoted by BBC.

Although the remote region was subsequently hit by a tsunami, Kamchatka's health minister said there have been no serious injuries so far, The Guardian reported.

Kamchatka is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region prone to major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, according to Reuters.

Tsunami alerts have been issued in Japan, the U.S.'s west coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and other islands of Micronesia.

Japan

At 10:29am local time, Japan ordered immediate evacuations for people in affected areas along the eastern Pacific coastline, from Hokkaido down to Wakayama prefecture, NHK reported.

The tsunami in these areas is estimated to be 3m high. "Escape to a higher, safe location right away," the alert said.

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant — the site of a major nuclear disaster following a tsunami in 2011 — have also been evacuated, BBC reported.

The first waves have hit the northern part of Hokkaido, measured to be around 30cm high.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said that no casualties or damage have been reported so far.

Nonetheless, he cautioned people that "after the initial wave, second and third waves of tsunamis can be even higher", The Guardian quoted.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that their authorities are "working to assess the situation", and any relief efforts will "put human lives first", BBC reported.

The United States

In Hawaii, officials have ordered an immediate evacuation from many parts of Oahu island, including the state capital Honolulu, according to BBC.

HNL Alert: Tsunami Warning Updated - Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected. Go to https://t.co/rWQABuBpUE for wave arrival time. EVACUATE coastal areas in PRIMARY EVACUATION ZONE. Map at https://t.co/gUXCBvh2ZM. Evacuate a https://t.co/TjGRXxxBoj pic.twitter.com/nkmdI3C6CD

— Oahu Emergency Mgmt. (@Oahu_DEM) July 30, 2025

Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management wrote on social media that the first wave is expected at around 7pm local time.

U.S. President Donald Trump also posted on social media that a tsunami watch is in effect for Alaska and islands along the Pacific coast in the country. These islands include Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, CNN reported.

Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit https://t.co/wdFzeu1I0h for the…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2025

Other countries

Authorities in the Philippines are also on alert for possible waves of less than 1m in provinces and towns along the eastern Pacific coast, AP reported.

In New Zealand, authorities issued warnings of "strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges" along coastlines throughout the country.

Top images from Raviagrawal300/X and SumitHansd/X