LIVE UPDATES: Tsunami alerts for Russia, Japan after 8.7 quake off Russian far east

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Here’s where things stand on Wednesday 30 July 2025:

• Tsunami alerts have been issued after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
• The quake struck 136km (84 miles) east of the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia’s far east, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Tuesday.
• Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami advisory for much of its east coast, warning of waves of up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) high.
• Tsunami warnings were also issued for Taiwan, Hawaii and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, with advisories issued for much of the US West Coast.

First tsunami waves hit US west coast

The first tsunami waves were detected in Monterrey, California at 12:48am local time (GMT 05:48), according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

Monterrey has issued an evacuation order for Monterey Harbour, Breakwater Cove and nearby areas.

Japan Meteorological Agency warns of tsunami threat lasting another day

Masashi Kiyomoto, an official from the Japan Meteorological Agency, has warned that the threat of a high tsunami will last for at least one more day.

According to remarks carried by Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Kiyomoto urged people in coastal areas and along rivers to move to higher ground and other safe places as “tsunami are now continuing to be observed”.

The official also said that a tsunami can continue to be observed over a long period.

He also told people to remain alert as tide levels could be higher than at present if tsunamis occur at high tide.

‘The walls were shaking’

In Russia’s Far Eastern coastal city of Petropavlovsk in the remote Kamchatka Peninsula, residents were woken up by one of the 10 biggest quakes recorded, according to the USGS.

Russian authorities said a tsunami hit and flooded the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, while local media said a wave between three and four metres high was recorded in the Elizovsky district of Kamchatka.

A video posted on Russian social media showed buildings in the town submerged in seawater. Authorities said the population of about 2,000 people was evacuated.

As we reported earlier, several people were injured, but none seriously.

“The walls were shaking,” a Kamchatka resident told state media Zvezda.

“It’s good that we packed a suitcase, there was one with water and clothes near the door. We quickly grabbed it and ran out … It was very scary,” she said.

Why are tsunami waves so powerful?

Japanese tsunami expert Kubota Tatsuya says tsunami waves are much more dangerous than regular waves – even if they do not seem that big initially.

“Unlike regular ocean waves, tsunamis are not just a wave only at the surface, but a movement of the entire water column. Therefore, the tsunami wave has tremendous energy and force, which can cause damage even with relatively small wave heights,” he told Al Jazeera.

“Even if the predicted wave height is not very large, it is essential to stay away from the coast and closely follow the guidance provided by official agencies,” he said.

Kubato also warned that waves may grow in size and intensity over time – as has been observed today in Japan.

“In many cases, multiple waves can arrive over several hours. Even if the first wave is not so large, it is possible that a larger tsunami can arrive [later],” he said.

Hawaii airports update

The Department of Transportation in Hawaii says all flights to and from Kahului Airport, the main airport in Maui, have been cancelled.

In a social media post, the department said passengers have been sheltering in the terminal.

“In the morning, those sheltering will be re-screened prior to departures,” it added.

Hilo International Airport also remains shut, while baggage screening at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport has resumed, with inter-island and trans-Pacific flights being staggered, if continued.

Evacuations across the Pacific Ocean after earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean.

The tsunami wave inundated coastal areas around Russia’s Far East region, and has prompted evacuations in Japan, Hawaii and other countries.

Warnings have also been issued for the Philippines, Indonesia and as far away as Ecuador.

Evacuations across the Pacific Ocean after earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean.

The tsunami wave inundated coastal areas around Russia’s Far East region, and has prompted evacuations in Japan, Hawaii and other countries.

Warnings have also been issued for the Philippines, Indonesia and as far away as Ecuador.

Photos: Tourists in Hawaii wait, watch for incoming tsunami waves

‘No wave of consequence so far’ in Hawaii: Governor

Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green has just given an update on the situation. Here are key takeaways:

• So far, local authorities have not seen a wave of consequence.
• Significant water recede several times has been reported in Haleiwa.
• No wave activities have been seen coming past the big island.
• While there have been no reports of damage, authorities expect to wait up to four hours before being able to assess that the situation is safe: “We are not yet in the clear.”
• As of now, there are no plans to shut off any power in advance.
• Airports have not been affected, but all flights from and to Maui have been cancelled for tonight.
• Next update will come at 9pm (07:00 GMT).

Japan warns tsunami wave cycles last about an hour, show no signs of receding

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the country’s Pacific coast has already been hit by four to five rounds of tsunami waves, and has warned residents of the following:

• There are no signs of tsunami waves receding.
• The height of waves continues to grow, from 20cm (0.6ft) earlier today to 1.3 metres (4.2ft) in the northeast of the country.
• Long gaps may be observed between rounds of waves.
• Each wave cycle can take about an hour, but waves could continue for an extended period.
• There is also a chance of powerful and unexpected surges.

Hawaii governor warns even small tsunami waves driven with ‘great force’

Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green has said it is too early to tell how big the tsunami waves reaching Hawaii will be.

Green said at a news conference that data from Midway Atoll, which is between Japan and Hawaii, measured waves from peak to trough of 6ft (1.8 metres), and said waves hitting Hawaii could be bigger or smaller than this.

A tsunami of that size would be akin to a 3ft (90cm) wave riding on top of surf, he said.

“This is a longitudinal wave with great force driving through the shoreline and into land,” he added.

Green said Black Hawk helicopters have been activated and high-water vehicles were ready to go in case authorities need to rescue people. “But please do not put yourself in harm’s way,” he said.

Japan prepared to ‘bear the brunt of any tsunamis’

Given its proximity [to the epicentre of the earthquake], the country that will bear the brunt of any tsunamis is Japan.

In 1952, there was another big earthquake in Kamchatka. That resulted in tsunamis that impacted and caused damage in Japan.

So, the most widespread alerts have been raised there, especially around the coastal areas of the northern island of Hokkaido and the Pacific coastal areas of the main Honshu island.

People have been told to evacuate coastal areas, stay away from the mouths of rivers and harbours, seek refuge at higher ground or the highest floors of sturdy buildings.

Because Japan is so prone to tsunami waves and earthquakes, they do prepare for these kinds of natural disasters. The harbours have sea defences which can be raised to try to block incoming waves. People practice evacuations. There is a very elaborate warning system in place.

More on tsunami waves in Russia

The fourth wave of the tsunami has reached the town of Severo-Kurilsk in Russia’s Sakhalin region, but it was already weak, according to the mayor of the Severo-Kurilsk region, Alexander Ovsyannikov, who spoke to the Interfax news agency.

“The most serious was the third wave, which did a lot of damage. It damaged the port infrastructure; the entire small fleet was pulled out to sea, it is now hanging around in the strait, some of the ships were washed ashore,” he said.

The tsunami alert remains. But in Severo-Kurilsk, it applies to the port area. The city itself is located on a hill in a safe place, the mayor added.

There were no casualties. It was previously reported that after a powerful earthquake near Kamchatka, a tsunami alert was declared in Severo-Kurilsk and everyone was evacuated from the tsunami-hazardous zone.

A state of emergency has been declared in the city due to the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami.

Photos: Japanese beaches empty amid tsunami warnings

First tsunami waves reach Hawaii

Tsunami waves appear to be reaching Hawaii as water levels rose suddenly around Kahulai, Nawiliwili, Honolulu, and Pearl Harbour, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Tsunami warning sirens activated in Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa: Report

Tsunami evacuation sirens have been activated on the South Pacific island of Tonga and alerts are in force across the island-chain kingdom, local news outlet Matangi Tonga Online reports.

According to the news outlet, Tonga’s meteorological service estimates that Tonga’s northern coastlines of Niua and Vava’u will be under tsunami threat from about 10-11pm tonight (09:00-10:00 GMT).

Other coastlines will also be threatened, the news site said.

Tonga’s National Tsunami Warning Centre warned that members of the “public who are in the tsunami threat area are advised to prepare to evacuate”.

“Mariners out at sea are advised to prepare to move to deep water,” it added.

Klyuchevskoy volcano ejects 3km ash column in Russia’s Kamchatka

The Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka has ejected ash to a height of up to 3 km (1.8 miles) above sea level, according to the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“By now, the ash plume has extended 58km [36 miles] east of the volcano. The volcano is continuing to erupt explosively at the summit. Ash emissions at altitudes up to 8km [4.9 miles] above sea level may occur at any time. Continued activity may affect low-flying aircraft,” the statement said, according to the Interfax news agency.

“The crater is almost filled with lava, we are expecting lava flows,” KVERT reported.

KVERT has assigned an orange colour code for aviation hazards to this volcano. International air traffic routes do not pass through the Klyuchevskoy area.

Japan reports tsunami waves along Pacific Coast

The whole Pacific coast of Japan is now reporting tsunami waves, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK World.

Waves are now as high as 60cm (1.9ft) along some parts of the coast, including Kuji Port and Hamanaka town, according to NHK.

The size of the waves has grown steadily from 20cm (0.6ft) earlier this morning, and authorities say they could reach as high as 3 metres (9.8ft).

Tsunami warning advisories will be in place across Japan for at least the next 24 hours, the broadcaster said.

The National Weather Service urges California residents to take caution

The National Weather Service’s San Francisco Bay office said a tsunami advisory is in place for the entire California coast and people should “stay away from” waterways and beaches.

Where have tsunami alerts been issued around the world?

Tsunami warnings or advisories have been issued for:

• Russia
• Japan
• Taiwan
• The Philippines
• China
• Hawaii
• Guam
• Tonga
• California
• Alaska
• Oregon
• Washington
• British Columbia
• Mexico
• Peru
• Ecuador

Taiwan warns waves will hit south coast

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration has warned that the island’s south coast could experience waves of 30cm to 1 metre (0.9 to 3.2ft) at about 1:30pm local time (05:30 GMT).

Other parts of Taiwan will experience waves of less than 1 metre, the agency said.

Taiwan lies to the southwest of Japan, close to Okinawa and other outlying islands.

Russia declares emergency on tsunami-hit islands

Authorities in Russia’s far eastern Sakhalin region have declared a state of emergency in the northern Kuril Islands, where tsunami waves have damaged buildings and caused flooding.

“A state of emergency has been declared in the North Kuril District, where an earthquake and tsunami occurred today,” the Sakhalin government said in a statement.

Ships washed away in far-eastern Russian port town

As we reported earlier, tsunami waves have inundated the far-eastern Russian port town of Severo-Kurilsk in the Kuril Islands.

Russia’s TASS news agency is reporting that while the first wave to flood the town passed without incident, a third powerful wave tore ships from their places, carrying them out to sea.

The port and fishing facilities were flooded, according to the Russian Emergency Ministry.

As we reported earlier, the town’s 2,000 residents had evacuated to higher ground.

Earthquake occurred in Pacific Ring of Fire

Chris Elders, a structural geology expert at Curtin University in Australia, told Al Jazeera that Wednesday’s earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is an “area of significant volcanic activity and also earthquake activity”.

“In this particular part of the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Ocean is moving down underneath the eastern side of Russia… and it’s that movement of the tectonic plates that produces these very large earthquakes,” Elders said.

“The earthquake causes the seabed to lift up a little bit, and that displaces the water sideways, producing the tsunami wave, and it’ll spread away from the epicentre,” he said.

Tsunamis can move at speed of commercial plane: Expert

Nathan Bangs, a research professor at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, told Al Jazeera that today’s earthquake resembled those behind recent disasters.

“Preliminary estimates are 8.8 [magnitude] and occurred along Kamchatka. This is a subduction zone setting that has the potential to generate large tsunamis. It is similar to other settings that have generated large tsunamis in recent years that followed earthquakes, such as Sumatra in 2004 and Tohoku in 2011,” Bangs said.

An earthquake in 2004 unleashed the devastating Boxing Day tsunami in the Indian Ocean, while the 2011 earthquake in Japan was the most powerful ever recorded in the country, and also generated a deadly tsunami.

Bangs said it is still too soon to understand the extent of the damage from the latest seismic event, but tsunami waves can move as fast as a commercial aeroplane.

“Tsunamis travel about the speed of an airliner and may not have yet reached potential danger zones in Hawaii or the US West Coast. If this event did generate a large tsunami, the impact of a tsunami may still occur around the Pacific,” Bangs added.

San Francisco residents warned against taking tsunami photos

The National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area office has warned that people could put themselves at risk, as well as members of the emergency services, if they go to take photos of the expected tsunami.

“This will NOT be a single wave. Do NOT try to go to the coast to take photos,” the service said on social media.

San Francisco’s Bay Area is under a tsunami advisory.

Communities further north are under a warning.

Peru issues tsunami warning for coastal areas

Peru’s navy has issued a tsunami warning for the country’s coastal areas.

“After an analysis and evaluation by the National Tsunami Warning Centre, it has been determined that this event generates a tsunami warning for the Peruvian coast,” the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy said in a statement.

The situation “will be kept under constant surveillance”, the statement added.

Tsunami expected to hit parts of eastern China

China’s tsunami warning centre has said that waves of between 30cm and 1 metre (11.8 inches and 3.2 ft) are expected to hit parts of the country’s eastern seaboard.

“Based on the latest warning and analysis results, the Tsunami Advisory Centre of the Ministry of National Resources has determined that the earthquake has triggered a tsunami, which is expected to cause damage to certain coastal areas of China,” the centre said.

Magnitude of earthquake revised upwards to 8.8: USGS

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has revised the strength of the earthquake,  which struck off Russia’s far-east coast at 8:25am local time on Wednesday (23:25 GMT on Tuesday) to a magnitude of 8.8.

The magnitude of the quake was initially reported at 8.0 and later revised upwards to 8.7.

Multiple aftershocks as strong as magnitude 6.9 have been recorded.

The quake caused damage to buildings and cars swayed in the streets in the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which also had power outages and mobile phone service failures.

As we reported earlier, several people sought medical help in Kamchatka after the earthquake, but no serious injuries were reported.

US Coastguard orders all commercial vessels to ‘evacuate’ harbours in Hawaii

The US Coastguard’s captain of the port of Honolulu has ordered all commercial vessels to “evacuate” commercial ports in Hawaii.

“All harbors are closed to incoming vessel traffic,” the coastguard said in a post on social media, ahead of the expected arrival of tsunami waves.

Mexico warns people to avoid Pacific beaches after tsunami alert

The Mexican navy has warned that strong currents are expected at port entrances from Baja California in the northwest to Chiapas in the south of Mexico.

Authorities at all levels of government are working to help keep people away from Pacific beaches due to the tsunami alert.

Photos: Honolulu residents prepare for tsunami

People in Hawaii are reported to be leaving coastal areas for higher ground and stocking up on supplies following the tsunami warning.

Tsunami waves of 50cm measured in Japan

Japan reports that waves as high as 50cm (1.6 ft) were recorded at Ishinomaki Port, a major city in the Miyagi Prefecture on the east coast.

Elsewhere, the first tsunami waves measured 20cm to 40cm (0.6 to 1.3 ft), but Japanese authorities say the second and third waves could be larger.

NHK World warned earlier that tsunami waves are stronger than ordinary waves, and a 50cm wave can carry a force of up to 200kg (440 pounds).

Philippines advises residents to stay away from beach in coastal areas

The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has said that Pacific coastal areas in the country are expected to experience tsunami waves of less than 1 metre high (3.2 ft).

“The first tsunami waves are expected to arrive between 01:20 PM to 02:40 PM” on Wednesday [06:20 GMT Thursday to 07:40 GMT Thursday], the institute said.

People are advised to stay away from the beach and not go to the coast in the provinces affected by the advisory.

The regions affected by the advisory are:

• The Batanes group of islands
• Albay province
• The Dinagat Islands
• Cagayan province
• Sorsogon province
• Surigao del Norte province
• Isabela province
• Catanduanes Island
• Surigao del Sur province
• Aurora province
• Northern Samar province
• Davao del Norte province
• Quezon province
• Eastern Samar province
• Davao Oriental province
• Camarines Norte province
• Leyte Island
• Davao Occidental province
• Camarines Sur province
• Southern Leyte province
• Davao del Sur province
• Davao de Oro province

Seismologist says earthquake and tsunami resemble 1952 event

University of Tokyo seismologist Sakai Shinichi told Al Jazeera that today’s earthquake and tsunami resemble a historic incident from 1952.

The powerful 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake also struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s far east, causing extensive damage and a tsunami.

“We will have to wait for reports from Russia to determine the extent of the damage on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Tsunamis of [20-50] centimetres [0.6-1.6 ft] have been observed in Japan, but information is still insufficient, so the number may increase in the future,” Sakai said.

“In the past, large earthquakes have occurred off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands, and the resulting tsunamis have reached Japan, causing widespread damage. For example, the 1952 earthquake,” he said.

Traffic jams reported in Honolulu as residents said to heed tsunami warning

Social media users have been sharing images of what is reported to be bumper-to-bumper traffic in Honolulu and other urban areas as residents of Hawaii leave for higher ground amid tsunami alerts.

Expert says tsunami focus will be central Pacific Ocean

Tsunami expert Philip Liu shared more analysis of potential tsunami damage with Al Jazeera a little earlier.

Liu said that given the direction of the tsunami, Japan is less at risk than other parts of the Pacific.

He said that tsunami wave heights are also smaller than originally estimated.

“Tsunamis tend to propagate in the direction normal to the long axis of the fault plane. Therefore, in this event, the major direction of tsunami propagation is towards the centre of the Pacific Ocean,” he said by email.

“Hawaii islands might be at risk, if the generated tsunamis are large enough.”

Trump says Tsunami Warning in place for Hawaii

US President Donald Trump has advised that a “Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii.”

“A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States,” Trump added.

“STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!”

If you’re just joining us

Here’s what you need to know:

• A powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off Russia’s far-east coast at 8:25am local time on Wednesday (23:25 GMT on Tuesday), the US Geological Survey said.
• Several people were injured in Russia’s far east during the earthquake, the TASS state news agency reported.
• Residents were evacuated as tsunami waves flooded the Russian port town of Severo-Kurilsk, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said.
• Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami advisory for much of its east coast, warning of waves of up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) high.
• Tsunami warnings were also issued for Taiwan, the Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and some parts of Indonesia, with advisories issued for much of the US West Coast.

Tsunami will be felt more strongly in the Pacific: Expert

Tsunami expert Philip Liu, a professor of civil and environment engineer at Texas A&M University, told Al Jazeera that due to the direction of the tsunami, Japan is at lower risk than some Pacific islands.

Warnings have been issued for Hawaii and the US territory of Guam, among other locations.

Workers at Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant evacuate after tsunami warning

Staff at the still-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northeast Japan have been evacuated amid countrywide tsunami warnings.

“We have evacuated all workers and employees” at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a spokeswoman for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) told the AFP news agency, adding “no abnormality” had been observed at the site.

Fukushima went into meltdown in 2011 after a magnitude 9 earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan, triggering a devastating tsunami that knocked out power and cooling systems at the plant, leading to the meltdown of three of the plant’s six reactors and causing the country’s worst nuclear accident.

Tsunami waves flood parts of Russian port town of Severo-Kurilsk

A tsunami has hit Russia’s far east coast, flooding a port town home to about 2,000 people, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said.

“The tsunami flooded parts of the port town of Severo-Kurilsk … The population has been evacuated,” the ministry said in a statement.

A video posted on Russian social media appeared to show buildings in the town submerged in seawater.

Several people injured by quake in Russia’s Kamchatka

Several people were injured during the earthquake in Russia’s far east, Russia’s state TASS news agency is reporting.

“Unfortunately, there are patients who were injured during the earthquake,” Kamchatka’s health minister, Oleg Melnikov, was quoted as saying by TASS.

“All patients are in satisfactory condition. No serious injuries have been reported at this time,” he added.

Indonesia geophysics agency issues tsunami warning for Papua region

Indonesia’s geophysics agency has issued a warning that tsunami waves of less than 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) could hit some parts of Indonesia by this afternoon.

The tsunami could reach some coastal cities and towns in the Papua region, North Maluku province and Gorontalo province, the agency said in a statement.

US issues tsunami warnings for Alaskan islands, advisory for US West Coast

The National Tsunami Warning Center, based in Alaska, has issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Alaskan Aleutian Islands.

Alaska Public Media said that the warning currently includes Atka, Adak, St Paul and St George.

Under a tsunami warning, people should evacuate inland or to higher ground.

The warning centre also issued a tsunami watch for portions of the US West Coast, including California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.

The advisory includes a vast swath of Alaska’s coastline, including parts of the panhandle.

An advisory means that people should stay away from beaches and waterways.

More tsunami waves arrive in Hokkaido

Japanese media report that the first tsunami waves of 30cm to 40cm (1 to 1.3 ft) have been observed in northern Hokkaido, including the following locations:

• Tokachi Port
• Nemuro Hanasaki
• Hamanaka town
• Kushiro Port
• Erimo town

Foreign tourists visiting Japan have been advised to ask locals for help to find shelter and other assistance.

Residents evacuate as waves reach Russia’s far-east

Valery Limarenko, the governor of the far-eastern Russian region of Sakhalin, says that the first waves of the tsunami have hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk.

“Residents of the settlement remain safe on high ground until the threat of repeated waves is completely lifted,” Limarenko wrote on Telegram.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba speaks about tsunami

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba briefly addressed the public earlier, urging people to evacuate from areas under a tsunami warning.

Ishiba said the government “will put in our best effort in order to avoid any damage to the public”, although it is still unknown how the day’s events will unfold.

The first waves are currently reaching northern Japan, according to estimates from the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Tokyo Bay and Osaka are both under tsunami advisory, and could experience waves as high as 1 metre (3.3 ft) .

Russia’s eastern Kamchatka region urges people to avoid coast after tsunami alert

The governor of Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka region has urged residents not to approach the coastline.

“A tsunami warning has been issued, and the strength of the wave is being determined”, Vladimir Solodov said on Telegram.

“I urge everyone to stay away from the coastline in tsunami-prone areas and to follow announcements on loudspeakers.”

The region is home to the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of some 180,000 residents.

Some coastal areas ordered to evacuate in Hawaii ahead of ‘destructive’ waves

The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management has called for the evacuation of some coastal areas in Hawaii due to the threat of tsunami waves generated by the magnitude 8.7 earthquake of Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

“Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected,” the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said on X.

First waves hit Hokkaido in northern Japan

The first tsunami wave was reported in Hanasaki Port in northern Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture.

The wave measured 30cm (almost 1 foot), according to NHK World Japan. The news outlet said waves have likely hit other locations as well.

Despite the relatively smaller size of the first waves, the news outlet said tsunami waves are much stronger than ordinary ones.

A 50cm wave carries a force of up to 200kg (441 pounds), or enough to knock over an adult.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency warns that parts of Japan could be hit by waves as high as 3 metres (9.8 feet).

Japan warns tsunami waves can hit more than once

Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned that anyone in an area under a tsunami warning from Hokkaido to Wakayama should evacuate immediately and move to higher ground.

Anyone in a region under a tsunami advisory has also been warned to stay away from the coast or river areas.

The JMA said at a news conference that tsunami waves can come repeatedly, and often, the second wave of a tsunami is higher than the first, so evacuation should continue until the tsunami warning is taken down.

Waves are expected to start at about 10am local time (01:00 GMT) and continue until 2pm (17:00 GMT).

What to know about the Kuril-Kamchatka arc

• The earthquake hit earlier, east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, in an area known as the Kuril-Kamchatka arc, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
• The Kuril-Kamchatka arc has frequent moderate-to-large earthquakes, the USGS said, with 31 other earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.5 or higher recorded within 250km (155 miles) of Wednesday’s earthquake in the past 100 years.
• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake recorded there on July 20, 2025, would now be considered a foreshock to this morning’s earthquake, the USGS said.
• The epicentre of the latest earthquake was 45km (28 miles) southeast of the November 4, 1952, magnitude 9.0 Kamchatka earthquake epicentre.
• The 1952 earthquake caused a Pacific-wide tsunami, but no deaths were reported despite it setting off 9.1-metre (30-foot) waves in Hawaii.

Taiwan issues tsunami warning

Taiwan, which lies directly to the southwest of Japan, has now also issued a tsunami warning.

Waves are expected to hit Japan’s north first, and then its southernmost islands at about 2pm local time (05:00 GMT), according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency, which means they would hit Taiwan shortly afterwards.

The current advisory for Japan says waves will be about 1 metre high (3.3 ft) at that point, although this could change.

Hawaii on tsunami watch

Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency says that if tsunami waves affect the islands, they are estimated to reach them by 7:17pm local time on Tuesday (06:00 GMT, Wednesday).

No injuries in Kamchatka after earthquake, town in Sakhalin evacuated: Russian governors

There were no injuries reported after the strongest earthquake “in decades” off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula earlier today, but evacuation was ordered for a small town in the Sakhalin region after a tsunami warning, regional governors said.

“Today’s earthquake was serious, and the strongest in decades of tremors,” Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app.

He said that according to preliminary information, there were no injuries, but a kindergarten was damaged.

Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko said on Telegram that an evacuation order was declared for the small town of Severo-Kurilsk after a tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake.

Japan issues tsunami advisory for east coast

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a tsunami warning for much of its east coast along the Pacific.

People have been warned to stay away from beaches, where waves of up to 3 metres are expected to start from 10 am local time (1:00 GMT) in the north of Hokkaido and gradually move south.

The JMA says they will announce further details at a press conference at 10:10 am (1:10 GMT).

What we know so far

• A powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off Russia’s far east coast at 8:25am local time on Wednesday (23:25 GMT on Tuesday), the US Geological Survey said.
• The magnitude of the quake was initially reported at 8.0 and later revised upwards to 8.7.
• The quake struck 136km (85 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia’s far east, the US Geological Survey said.
• Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami advisory for the country, warning of waves of up to 1 metre (3.3 feet) high.
• The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an immediate “tsunami watch” for the state of Hawaii.

Welcome to our live coverage

Hello, and welcome to our live coverage of the tsunami warnings issued following a magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

Stay with us for the latest news as it happens.