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A COLOSSAL 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, triggering tsunami waves across the Pacific and prompting widespread alerts from Japan to New Zealand, including tsunami warnings for Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and the west coast of the United States.
AP reported that according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake occurred at 8:25 a.m. Japan time, centred 119 kilometres east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 20.7 kilometres. Initially measured at 8.0, the tremor was later revised to 8.8, making it among the most powerful seismic events globally in recent decades.
In Honolulu, sirens rang out and residents were urged to evacuate to higher ground as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned that the resulting waves “could cause damage along the coastlines of all the Hawaiian islands.” The first waves were expected around 7 p.m. local time, and the warning stressed that “urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property.”
Tsunami waves measuring less than 30 centimetres were reported in Alaskan communities such as Amchitka and Adak. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator at the National Tsunami Warning Center, said, “A tsunami is not just one wave. It’s a series of powerful waves over a long period of time. They move back and forth for quite a while,” adding that the danger could persist for many hours.
In Japan, the northern port of Ishinomaki recorded a wave of 50 centimetres — the highest confirmed there. Authorities issued evacuation advisories to more than 900,000 people across 133 municipalities along Japan’s Pacific coast, stretching from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. No casualties or major damage had been reported by Wednesday evening. Japan’s nuclear facilities, including Fukushima Daiichi, confirmed no abnormalities.
In Russia, residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 180,000 near the epicentre, experienced structural damage, power outages, and disruption to mobile services. While several people sought medical assistance, no serious injuries were reported. The coastal town of Severo-Kurilsk on the Kuril Islands was struck by the first wave, and evacuations were carried out successfully.
Across the wider Pacific region, authorities in Oregon and Canada’s British Columbia advised of incoming waves between 30 and 60 centimetres, urging people to avoid beaches and harbours due to strong and erratic currents.
Mexico’s navy forecast wave activity along its Pacific coast from Ensenada to Chiapas, while the Philippines warned of waves under one metre along its eastern coast.
New Zealand, over 9,600 kilometres from the quake’s epicentre, issued alerts for strong, unpredictable coastal surges and urged the public to stay away from the water.
“This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water,” said Oregon's Department of Emergency Management in a statement.
Transport was also disrupted in parts of Japan. Ferry services between Hokkaido and Aomori and routes to Tokyo’s outlying islands were suspended, while Sendai Airport temporarily closed its runway.
The quake is the strongest in the Kamchatka region since a magnitude 9.0 event in 1952, which produced 30-foot waves in Hawaii but caused no fatalities. Seismologists warned that aftershocks may continue for up to a month and advised the public to avoid coastal areas.
The incident follows a series of strong earthquakes off Kamchatka earlier in July, including a 7.4-magnitude tremor. Experts say the area remains highly seismically active, with the potential for further disturbances.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Malaysia is closely monitoring the situation following a tsunami advisory issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency after a powerful earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday.
In a media statement, the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) said that there are currently no reports of Malaysians affected by the situation.
“However, all Malaysians in the affected areas are strongly advised to remain vigilant, follow safety instructions issued by local authorities, and stay updated through official channels,” the ministry said.
Wisma Putra also advised Malaysians residing in or travelling through the affected areas to register with the embassy and remain in close contact to ensure timely assistance if necessary.
The Foreign Ministry said Malaysians requiring consular assistance can contact the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo at 20-16, Nanpeidai-cho, Shibuya-ku, 150-0036 Tokyo, Japan, or reach the embassy by phone at +81-3-3476-3840 / emergency: +81-80-4322-3366 or email mwtokyo@kln.gov.my / consular.tyo@kln.gov.my.
Japan on Wednesday issued a tsunami warning for the country’s Pacific coast after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the morning, with waves of up to 50 centimetres recorded in parts of northern and eastern Japan, Kyodo News Agency reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of tsunami waves of up to three metres reaching areas stretching from Hokkaido in northern Japan to Wakayama Prefecture in the west and the Ogasawara Islands in the south. The warning could remain in effect for the entire day, the agency said. - July 30, 2025