A powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, unleashing widespread tsunami alerts across the Pacific Ocean. Tsunami Warnings have been issued for Hawaii and parts of Alaska, while the entire U.S. West Coast is under a Tsunami Watch, prompting emergency agencies to urge coastal residents to prepare for potentially destructive waves.
The monster quake occurred at approximately 1:24 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (7:24 p.m. ET), about 85 miles east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, at a depth of about 46 miles (74 kilometers), according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported the magnitude as 8.0 before upgrading it to 8.7, making it the most powerful earthquake recorded globally since the 9.1 magnitude Tōhoku quake that devastated Japan in 2011.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) warned that an earthquake of this magnitude could generate a destructive tsunami affecting coastlines far from the epicenter. In Russia, authorities reported that tsunami waves reaching 3 to 4 meters (9.8 to 13 feet) were recorded in the Yelizovo District of the Kamchatka region, as reported by CNN and Al Jazeera. Evacuations were also reportedly underway on Sakhalin, a large Russian island to the southwest of the epicenter. Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami advisory for its Pacific coast, warning of waves up to 1 meter (3.3 feet).
In the United States, the state of Hawaii is under a Tsunami Warning. According to Hawaii News Now, an initial Tsunami Watch for the islands was upgraded to a warning at 2:43 p.m. HST. The PTWC stated that the first waves were estimated to arrive in Hawaii around 7:17 p.m. HST. Forecasts suggest waves of 3 to 9 feet (1 to 3 meters) are possible along some coasts of Hawaii, with waves potentially exceeding 9 feet in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
A Tsunami Warning means a dangerous tsunami is imminent or expected and that urgent action, including evacuation of coastal areas, is required to protect lives and property. A Tsunami Watch, which is in effect for California, Oregon, and Washington, means a tsunami is possible. Residents in watch zones should stay informed and be prepared to take action.
The threat to the U.S. West Coast is still being evaluated, but the PTWC has issued estimated arrival times for any potential first waves. According to Fox Weather, waves could reach the coasts of Washington and Oregon around 11:40 p.m. PT. Further south, the San Francisco area could see waves around 12:40 a.m. PT Wednesday, with the Los Angeles coastline potentially being impacted around 1:05 a.m. PT. Parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands are also under a Tsunami Warning.
Officials are urging the public to take these alerts seriously. A tsunami is a series of powerful waves, and the first wave may not be the largest. The danger can persist for many hours after the initial arrival. Authorities in affected areas are advising people in designated evacuation zones to move to higher ground immediately and for others to stay away from beaches, harbors, and marinas. This remains a developing situation, and residents are advised to monitor updates from their local emergency management agencies and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
