A powerful earthquake, measuring 8.8 in magnitude, struck off the coast of Russia on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM local time (4:30 AM ET), leading to tsunami warnings across multiple countries in the Pacific, including the United States.
Tsunami alerts were issued for Hawaii and parts of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, with initial warnings also affecting the West Coast regions of California, Oregon, and Washington.
These warnings were later upgraded to tsunami advisories on Tuesday evening Pacific Time, while British Columbia in Canada issued a similar advisory.
The tsunami waves generated by this earthquake have already impacted Japan and Russia’s Kuril Islands, and are en route to Hawaii, where coastal evacuations have taken place.
Reports indicate that the waves are beginning to strike California following warnings issued by officials.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this earthquake is among the top ten most powerful recorded since tracking began.
“The July 29, 2025, Mw 8.8 Kamchatka earthquake is the largest event globally since the Mw 9.0 Tohoku earthquake in Japan in 2011 and ranks amongst the top ten largest earthquakes since 1900,” the USGS stated on its website.
While initial reports pegged the quake’s magnitude at 8.0, it was later revised to 8.8, classifying it as the sixth most severe in history, alongside notable earthquakes in Biobío, Chile, and Esmeraldas, Ecuador, both recorded in the past century.
The Pacific region has also experienced aftershocks of 6.3 and 6.9 magnitudes, according to the USGS, further increasing concerns about the earthquake’s impact.
With the quake’s shallow depth, measured at just 12 miles beneath the ocean’s surface, tsunami risk is exceedingly high.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) first issued a tsunami warning, which remains active at the time of this report.
Following the alerts, the National Weather Service noted on X that tsunami waves were recorded at Haleiwa, Hawaii, with a four-foot wave (1.2 meters) detected off Oahu.
President Donald Trump took to social media to send a message urging residents to “STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE,” encouraging them to stay updated via the tsunami.gov online dashboard.
In response to the tsunami threat, Hawaii’s National Weather Service called for immediate actions to safeguard lives and property.
Authorities have advised residents to evacuate low-lying areas and seek higher ground, stating that they should aim for at least the fourth floor of buildings.
To prepare for the tsunami, sirens could be heard throughout Hawaii at ten-minute intervals for three hours leading up to the anticipated impact.
As coastal areas began experiencing tsunami waves, Hawaii Governor Josh Green spoke at a press conference, noting that based on reports from other Pacific locations affected by the waves, Hawaii was preparing for a significant wave height of six feet from peak to trough.
He explained that it equates to a three-foot wave riding on the ocean’s surface.
Officials warned that all shorelines across the islands are susceptible to tsunami impacts due to the nature of such colossal waves wrapping around land masses.
The National Weather Service cautioned that danger could persist for hours after the initial wave passes because subsequent waves could follow.
“Tsunami heights are unpredictable, and the first wave may not always be the largest,” they stated in an alert.
Governor Green emphasized the power of a tsunami wave, clarifying that it is not merely a three-foot surge but a significant wall of water, capable of toppling utility poles and carrying debris.
Responding to reports of heavy traffic from residents evacuating coastal areas, the governor expressed optimism that residents had sufficient time to reach higher ground, noting that traffic seemed to be easing.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi reinforced the message during an interview, urging residents in low-lying areas to ascend to higher ground while also acknowledging the hazardous driving conditions during evacuations.
The situation became dramatic as videos surfaced on social media showing cruise passengers stranded in Hawaii due to cruise ships allegedly abandoning them amid the tsunami warnings.
Some passengers were seen desperately scrambling to board their ship as it departed, while others took to platforms like TikTok, expressing their despair about being left behind and evacuating to safer locations.
However, as of recent updates, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center downgraded the tsunami warnings in Hawaii from an “alert” to an “advisory,” indicating that it was now safe for residents to return to previously evacuated areas.
Following the tsunami alerts, Hawaiian Airlines confirmed a resumption of its flight operations as airports reopened.
Both Hawaiian Airlines and its sister airline, Alaska Airlines, had suspended flights temporarily in anticipation of tsunami waves, resulting in numerous cancellations affecting travel to and from the islands.
Alaska Airlines announced operations would recommence by the following morning.
Meanwhile, on the morning of July 30, 2025, tsunami waves were also reported to be impacting parts of California.
The National Weather Service confirmed that the California coastline was beginning to experience the effects of the tsunami, with waves reaching areas such as Arena Cove and moving southward along the coast.
“Initial tsunami waves are beginning to affect the coast, with significant waves recorded at the Crescent City and Humboldt Bay tide gauges,” the NWS Eureka reported.
They further warned that waves would continue to build through the night, posing increased risks as high tide approached.
The densely impacted zone stretches around 130 miles from the southernmost point at Cape Mendocino (near Fortuna), California, extending up to areas near Bandon, Oregon.
This zone has the potential for tsunami impacts extending up to 15 miles inland at its deepest point, particularly at Cape Mendocino.
The remaining portions of the coast in California, Oregon, and Washington are still under a tsunami advisory.
Should a tsunami occur, it is projected to affect the North Coast around 11:40 PM and reach the Los Angeles area around 1 AM, although impact in LA is expected to be limited.
Tsunami warnings have also been issued beyond the mainland U.S., with alerts activating for U.S. territories such as Guam and American Samoa, according to the USGS’s reports.
In addition, advisories have been declared for Japan’s Pacific Coast regions, ranging from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
Countries such as Ecuador and Chile have also reported tsunami alerts, alongside several provinces in the Philippines.
Evacuation orders or tsunami advisories have been put in place in several other areas, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Indonesia, French Polynesia’s Marquesas Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Taiwan.
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