A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, 2025, sending violent tremors through the region and triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean. The powerful and shallow quake prompted evacuation orders in coastal communities from Japan to Hawaii, placing the entire U.S. West Coast on alert.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 12 miles (19.3 km), with its epicenter located about 78 miles (125 km) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the main city on the remote Russian peninsula. Videos emerging from the region showed buildings shaking violently and furniture toppling over. Initial reports from Russian authorities indicated structural damage and power outages in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. A tsunami with waves reaching up to four meters was recorded along the Kamchatka coast, leading to evacuations and reports of minor injuries.

The quake's immense power generated an immediate tsunami threat that rippled across the Pacific. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings for parts of Alaska and Hawaii, where coastal evacuation protocols were activated. Advisories were extended to the entire U.S. West Coast, as well as to Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

In Japan, authorities issued urgent tsunami warnings and ordered evacuations in several coastal regions. Waves of up to 40 centimeters were observed in Hokkaido. Evacuation orders notably included areas around the Fukushima nuclear plant, a precaution reflecting the memory of the 2011 disaster.

Tsunami alerts of varying levels were also issued for a vast number of countries, including Ecuador, Mexico, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Taiwan, the Philippines, and parts of Indonesia, underscoring the far-reaching impact of the seismic event. This earthquake has been cited as one of the most powerful on record.

This major seismic event was not isolated. It followed a very strong M7.4 earthquake that struck the same seismically active region on July 20, 2025. In the hours following the main 8.8-magnitude shock, a series of powerful aftershocks, some measuring as high as magnitude 6.9, continued to rattle the area, complicating rescue and assessment efforts.

Emergency services and government agencies across the Pacific basin are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Residents in all affected coastal areas are being urged to remain vigilant, seek higher ground where advised, and stay informed through official channels as authorities assess the ongoing threat from potential tsunami waves and aftershocks.