Russia Hit by 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake, Tsunami Waves Reach Japan

A massive 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early on Wednesday, July 30, unleashing tsunami waves up to four metres high. The powerful tremor prompted widespread evacuations along Russia’s coast and in Japan, with tsunami alerts issued across the Pacific, including for the United States and several island nations.

The quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 19.3 kilometres, had its epicentre about 125 kilometres east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a major coastal city. The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially registered the magnitude at 8.0 before upgrading it to 8.8. Russian authorities confirmed that tsunami waves between three and four metres were recorded in the Kamchatka region. “All need to move away from water peaks,” urged Russia’s regional minister for emergency situations, Lebedev, as emergency protocols were activated.

In response, evacuations were ordered in the town of Severo-Kurilsk. While some buildings, including a kindergarten, sustained damage, Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov reported no initial injuries. “Today’s earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,” he stated in a video message.

Across the sea in Japan, the Meteorological Agency warned that tsunami waves of up to one metre could hit large parts of the country’s eastern coastline. An emergency committee was established to coordinate the government’s response after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was briefed on the situation. Images from Hokkaido showed vehicles moving to higher ground in the city of Kushiro.

The US Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for “hazardous tsunami waves,” forecasting waves exceeding three metres for parts of Russia’s Pacific coast and the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The agency also predicted smaller waves, between 0.3 to 1 metre, for the coasts of the Philippines, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, with even smaller waves anticipated for South and North Korea and Taiwan.

Adding to the region’s anxiety, a strong 6.9-magnitude aftershock struck approximately an hour after the main event, raising concerns about structural stability.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is located on the highly seismic “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent tectonic activity. This event follows a series of strong tremors in the same area earlier in July. One of the most powerful quakes in the region’s history occurred on November 4, 1952, when a 9.0-magnitude tremor generated enormous waves that reached as far as Hawaii.