Indonesia&rsquo;s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a public alert for a possible minor tsunami, following a powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia&rsquo;s Kamchatka Peninsula. The agency warned that coastal provinces across eastern Indonesia could see waves under 0.5 metres, urging residents to stay alert and avoid the shoreline.
The tremor, originally estimated at magnitude 8.0, was later upgraded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) to 8.7, with a shallow depth of 19.3 km, increasing the likelihood of surface level shaking and tsunami generation. The epicentre was located about 125 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a key city in Russia's far eastern region.
Indonesian Coastal Areas on Watch&nbsp;
Regions identified by BMKG as potentially affected include Gorontalo, North Maluku, North Sulawesi, West Papua, Papua, and Southwest Papua. Specific coastal cities and islands at risk include Gorontalo City, North Halmahera, Talaud Islands, Sorong, Supiori, Manokwari, Jayapura, Biak Numfor, Sarmi, and Raja Ampat.
Daryono, head of BMKG&rsquo;s earthquake and tsunami mitigation division, urged citizens to remain calm and follow updates only from official BMKG sources. &ldquo;We advise communities near the coastline to temporarily distance themselves from the shore until further notice,&rdquo; he said.
Pacific Region on High Alert
The earthquake also triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific region. Countries including Japan, the United States (Hawaii), and the Philippines have activated emergency protocols. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued alerts for Hokkaido and other coastal regions, advising people to stay informed through official websites and evacuate if needed.
In Japan, the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office directed authorities to prioritize public safety and coordinate closely with local governments to prepare for emergency response and rescue operations.
Governments across the Pacific are now closely monitoring wave movements and estimated arrival times, with experts warning that tsunami waves may reach some coasts within three hours of the quake.
Residents in all potentially affected areas have been urged to move to higher ground and adhere strictly to official evacuation guidelines until the all-clear is issued.

Indonesia Issues Tsunami Alert After Russia Quake

BMKG warns of minor tsunami risk in coastal areas after powerful quake near Kamchatka

Indonesia Issues Tsunami Alert After Russia Quake

BMKG warns of minor tsunami risk in coastal areas after powerful quake near Kamchatka

July 30, 2025 | 12:38 IST