Massive 8.8 Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warnings Across Pacific
- admin928749
- Jul 30
- 2 min read
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake has struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, shaking the region and triggering widespread tsunami warnings — including for Japan, Russia, the U.S. West Coast, Australia, New Zealand, and even Hawaii.
It’s the biggest earthquake in 14 years and the strongest in the Kamchatka region since 1952. The quake hit around 9:24pm AEST and was shallow — only 19km deep — which often makes the effects more intense.
Tsunami Warnings Issued Worldwide
Japan has ordered over 900,000 people to evacuate, with early waves of around 30cm already hitting Hokkaido. Waves up to 3 metres are expected.
Russia’s far east saw flooding in the port town of Severo-Kurilsk. Luckily, everyone was evacuated safely.
The U.S. West Coast, from California to Alaska, is under tsunami advisory. Donald Trump urged Americans to “stay strong and stay safe.”
Hawaii has issued emergency alerts with warnings of destructive waves, ordering evacuations across parts of Oahu, including Honolulu.
New Zealand also issued alerts, asking people to stay off beaches and coastal areas, but no evacuation unless officially told to.
Aftershocks & Impact
Russia’s monitoring service warned of aftershocks up to magnitude 7.5. Several injuries have been reported in Kamchatka, though thankfully, no serious cases.
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant — infamous for the 2011 meltdown — has safely evacuated workers. No abnormalities have been detected at the site.
What About Australia?
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says waves of up to 1 metre could reach Australia’s east coast. No major evacuations have been announced, but authorities are monitoring the situation.
It’s a tense and fast-moving situation across the Pacific, and officials everywhere are urging people to stay alert, follow local updates, and avoid all coastal areas until further notice.
Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Global.
Comments