Tsunami Hits Russia, Japan After Massive 8.8 Earthquake
- Publish date: Wednesday، 30 July 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
Quake triggers Pacific-wide tsunami alerts, coastal evacuations, and safety warnings from Russia to Japan and beyond.
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A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, sending shockwaves (literally) across the Pacific. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake was shallow—just 19.3km deep—which makes it more dangerous and felt across a wider area.
Tsunami Hits Russian Town, Evacuations Ordered
The quake triggered a tsunami that hit Severo-Kurilsk, a port town in Russia's Far East with around 2,000 people. Videos posted on Russian social media showed parts of the town submerged in seawater. Residents were evacuated and a few people were reportedly injured—but no serious cases so far.
Japan Issues Urgent Warnings
Across the sea in Japan, evacuations kicked in fast. The northern island of Hokkaido saw the first wave—just 30cm high—but the alert was quickly upgraded. The Japan Meteorological Agency raised tsunami warnings from 1 meter to up to 3 meters, covering a huge chunk of the country’s northern and eastern coastline.
TV channels flashed “Tsunami! Evacuate!” warnings, and even workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant were pulled out as a precaution. Trains around Chiba, Yokohama, and the Izu coast were halted.
Warnings Ripple Across the Pacific
It wasn’t just Russia and Japan on alert. The US Tsunami Warning Centers flagged possible waves:
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Over 3 meters: Russia, northwestern Hawaiian Islands, parts of Ecuador
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1–3 meters: Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Chile, French Polynesia, and more
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Up to 1 meter: Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, New Zealand, Colombia, and Tonga
Even California sent out mobile alerts, as did the Philippines, warning eastern communities to stay inland and avoid beaches until further notice.
Aftershocks Still Shaking the Region
At least six aftershocks have hit, including two big ones at 6.9 and 6.3 magnitudes.
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