A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, prompting widespread tsunami warnings across Russia, Japan, and parts of the United States, including Hawaii and the West Coast.
Initially reported at magnitude 8.0, the quake was later upgraded to 8.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), placing it among the strongest ever recorded globally—tied for sixth with major quakes in Chile (2010) and Ecuador (1906).
The earthquake hit at 8:25 a.m. local time (Tuesday evening ET), approximately 119 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000 people. Russian officials confirmed several injuries and issued evacuation orders for nearby coastal areas. The town of Severo-Kurilsk, home to around 2,000 residents, was inundated by tsunami waves up to four metres high. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry confirmed the town had been evacuated, while authorities warned that strong aftershocks—possibly as high as magnitude 7.5—could continue for weeks.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov described it as the strongest earthquake in decades. Health officials reported that there were no serious injuries, and that those hurt were in stable condition.
The quake has triggered global concern, particularly due to the region’s seismic history. Kamchatka previously experienced one of the world’s five most powerful earthquakes in 1952, with a magnitude of 9.0.
Japan Orders Mass Evacuations After Tsunami Warning
In Japan, the Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning covering a broad stretch of coastline from Hokkaido in the north to southern Wakayama Prefecture. Officials urged residents to evacuate to higher ground immediately and warned that tsunami waves could persist for more than a day.
As of midday Wednesday, waves measuring up to 40 cm had been recorded in several coastal areas of Hokkaido, including Tokachi and Kushiro ports. Train services were suspended, and Sendai Airport closed its runways. Evacuation warnings were issued to nearly two million people, including 10,000 residents in Hokkaido.
Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were evacuated as a precaution. The facility was the site of a 2011 nuclear disaster following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami.
Hawaii and U.S. West Coast on High Alert
Tsunami sirens sounded across Hawaii late Tuesday, with the state’s Emergency Management Agency warning of imminent wave impacts beginning around 7:10 p.m. local time. “Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,” the agency said.
Governor Josh Green urged residents to evacuate low-lying coastal zones and to seek shelter in high-rise buildings or on higher ground. “You have to expect flooding on all islands. You should be safe, not sorry,” he said.
The U.S. West Coast and Alaska were also placed on tsunami watch, while emergency agencies across the Pacific Rim closely monitored developments.
President Donald Trump responded on social media, urging residents in affected areas to “stay strong and stay safe.” Authorities across the Pacific continue to assess risks as aftershocks persist and further waves remain possible.