𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: "Strong quake in Russia sparks Pacific tsunami alerts" by James Xyrelle M. Galang

Published by: Kimmi Rebato

Date Published: August 8, 2025

Time Published: 9:16 AM

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at 11:25 a.m. local time on Wednesday, July 30, shaking nearby cities and prompting tsunami warnings across Japan, Hawaii, and Chile.

The quake was centered about 119 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a shallow depth of 21 kilometers, making its effects more intense.

Officials confirmed it was the strongest earthquake in the region since 1952, marking a historic seismic event.

“Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,” stated Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov.

Tsunami waves in Severo-Kurilsk exceeded 3 meters and surged up to 5 meters, damaging the port and sweeping boats out to sea.

As a safety measure, residents were instructed by Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov to avoid using gas stoves and to wait for inspections before returning indoors.

Several injuries were reported, and structural damage affected homes, schools, and other buildings throughout Kamchatka.

Waves up to 60 centimeters reached parts of Japan’s eastern coast, leading to immediate evacuations from vulnerable coastal areas.

Later in the day, tsunami alerts for Japan and Hawaii were downgraded, though authorities in French Polynesia urged preparation for possible waves reaching up to 4 meters.

“Our armed forces in French Polynesia are on alert to help in possible rescue or evacuation operations.” assured French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

Governments across the Pacific Rim remain on alert for aftershocks and further wave activity, prioritizing public safety and damage control.

REFERENCES:

[1] Bennett, T. (2025, July 30). What we know as tsunami alerts issued after Russia earthquake. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzmkjjj03o

[2] Reuters. (2025, July 30). Huge quake rocks Russia's Far East, triggering tsunami warnings around Pacific. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/huge-quake-rocks-russias-far-east-triggering-tsunami-warnings-around-pacific-2025-07-30/

[3] Yamaguchi, M. (2025, July 30). 8.8 magnitude quake strikes off Russia’s Far East; tsunami waves reach Japan, Hawaii and California. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/japan-russia-kamchatka-earthquake-tsunami-warning-a88cbe8a1e985cff54dc0ad849ea5dd