Published: July 30, 2025 12:04 am
Author: RT
Hazardous waves from magnitude 8 quake are possible on the coasts of Russia and Japan, USGS says
A tsunami warning has been issued for coastal areas of Russia’s Far East, with hazardous waves also possible in Japan, Alaska and Hawaii, after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The quake, initially measured at magnitude 7.5, was registered around 11:30am local time on Wednesday, approximately 136 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, according to the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The US Geological Survey (USGS) assessed the tremor at magnitude 8.0.
“An absolute tsunami alert on the coast of Avacha Bay!” the Russian emergency agency said in a statement on Telegram. Officials warned of potentially hazardous waves affecting the Kamchatka coastline.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) stated that the earthquake’s intensity reached 8 points on the seismic scale in some districts of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Residents reported intense shaking, described furniture and appliances falling, and car alarms being triggered.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but local media reported that structural damage occurred at Kindergarten No. 15, where parts of the walls collapsed.
Emergency services in Kamchatka have been placed on high alert, and local authorities are assessing infrastructure for further damage. Evacuations from low-lying areas near the coast are underway as a precaution.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a Tsunami Watch for the entire state of Hawaii. A Tsunami Advisory is also in effect for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW
