Massive Quake Off Russia Sparks Pacific-Wide Tsunami Alerts

A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings and advisories across the Pacific, including Japan, the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and Micronesia. In the nearby Kuril Islands, tsunami waves reached 3–4 meters, causing flooding, minor injuries, and infrastructure damage.

In Japan, tsunami warnings extended from Hokkaido to Wakayama, prompting evacuation orders for more than 900,000 residents across over 130 municipalities. Recorded wave heights were relatively low—up to 0.4 m at 16 coastal locations but authorities cautioned that second and third waves could follow. Staff at the Fukushima nuclear plant were evacuated as a precaution, with no reported abnormalities.

Across the U.S. and Pacific, the National Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, along with watches for the West Coast, Hawaii, Guam, and Micronesia. In Hawaii, waves reached 1.2 m, prompting road closures, airport disruptions, and coastal evacuations. Guam and Saipan also implemented precautionary measures before lifting their alerts as conditions stabilized.

Warnings spread to other Pacific nations, including French Polynesia, Ecuador, Peru, and New Zealand, where residents were advised to avoid shorelines due to the risk of waves reaching up to 3 meters.

While Russia’s Far East saw localized flooding and damage, no widespread casualties were reported. Authorities warned that strong aftershocks, potentially up to magnitude 7.5, could strike in the coming days, with emergency measures and coastal restrictions remaining in effect.