8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Russia, Triggers Pacific-Wide Tsunami Warnings

A powerful earthquake measuring 8.8 struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, generating tsunami waves up to four meters (12 feet) high and prompting widespread evacuations across the Pacific region—from Hawaii to Japan.

The quake, one of the strongest recorded globally in recent history, hit near Petropavlovsk and is the most significant in the area since a devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake in 1952. Russian authorities reported flooding and damage in the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, where waves inundated the harbor and submerged a fishing plant. Around 2,000 residents were evacuated, with several minor injuries reported.

Locals described the terrifying shaking and rushed escapes, with one resident telling state media, “It was very scary.”

Officials across Pacific nations issued urgent warnings. Japan advised nearly two million people to evacuate coastal areas, while a 1.3-meter tsunami struck Iwate prefecture. Tragically, one woman died in Japan while fleeing the coast. In Hawaii, authorities canceled flights to and from Maui as a precaution, and tsunami sirens sounded near Waikiki Beach, sending residents to higher ground.

The US Tsunami Warning Centers issued alerts for waves potentially exceeding three metres along parts of Ecuador, northwestern Hawaii, and Russia. Lesser waves were expected along coasts of Chile, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and several Pacific islands.

At Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant—damaged in the 2011 tsunami—workers were evacuated as a safety precaution. Meanwhile, Taiwan advised residents and tourists to avoid coastal areas, and the Pacific island nation of Palau ordered evacuations of all coastal zones.

The region continues to experience aftershocks, with magnitudes reaching up to 7.5. Authorities remain vigilant as recovery and assessment efforts proceed.