A massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday morning, prompting widespread tsunami warnings and evacuation orders across multiple countries, including Japan, the United States, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the undersea quake occurred at 8:25am local time (23:25 GMT Tuesday), approximately 136 km (85 miles) east of the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The region sits along the Kuril-Kamchatka arc, known for seismic activity, where over 30 significant earthquakes have occurred in the past century. A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the same area on July 20, 2025, is now considered a foreshock to this major event.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov described the earthquake as “the strongest in decades.”
While he reported no fatalities, minor injuries were noted, and a kindergarten building sustained damage. Authorities urged residents to stay away from the coast due to potential aftershocks and further tsunami waves.
Shortly after the quake, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry confirmed that tsunami waves had flooded parts of the port town of Severo-Kurilsk in Sakhalin, home to around 2,000 people. Governor Valery Limarenko announced the town’s full evacuation, assuring that “residents remain safe on high ground until the threat of repeated waves is completely lifted.”
Videos circulated on Russian social media showed buildings partially submerged in seawater.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami advisories for much of its eastern coastline, warning of waves as high as 3 metres (9.8 feet). The first waves, measuring 30 to 40 cm (1 to 1.3 ft), were observed in northern Hokkaido, including Kushiro Port, Tokachi, and Hamanaka.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed the public, urging immediate evacuation from high-risk areas. “We will put in our best effort in order to avoid any damage to the public,” he said.
JMA warned residents that tsunami waves can strike multiple times, with later waves often more destructive than the first. Evacuation orders remain in place across Japan’s northern and eastern coastlines, including Tokyo Bay and Osaka, which could experience waves of up to 1 metre (3.3 feet).
Foreign tourists have also been advised to seek help from locals in finding shelter and following safety instructions.
In a precautionary move, workers at Japan’s still-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were evacuated. A spokeswoman for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) confirmed the evacuation and reported “no abnormality” at the site.
Fukushima had suffered a meltdown during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, making authorities highly cautious during seismic emergencies.
Tsunami warnings and advisories extended far beyond Russia and Japan.
Taiwan issued a warning, expecting waves after Japan’s southernmost islands are affected.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency warned of potential 0.5 metre (1.6 ft) waves along coastal areas in Papua, North Maluku, and Gorontalo.
In the U.S., the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska issued a warning for parts of the Aleutian Islands, including Atka, Adak, St. Paul, and St. George. Evacuation orders were issued for some coastal areas, while advisories covered the U.S. West Coast — from California to Washington — and Hawaii.
The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management urged residents in affected zones to move inland, stating, “Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected.”
Philip Liu, a tsunami expert at Texas A&M University, noted that Japan might face a lower risk compared to smaller Pacific islands, based on the direction of the tsunami waves. However, he emphasised the potential severity of subsequent waves, urging continued caution across the Pacific basin.