A devastating 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia&rsquo;s Far East early Wednesday, sending tsunami waves as high as 4 meters (13 feet) across the Pacific and triggering widespread evacuation alerts in Japan, the U.S., and other nations.
The earthquake&rsquo;s epicentre was located approximately 119 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a key Russian city with nearly 180,000 residents. The powerful undersea tremor prompted immediate tsunami warnings from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC).
Authorities confirmed tsunami waves of 3 to 4 meters hit Russia&rsquo;s Kuril Islands, especially Severo-Kurilsk, where precautionary evacuations were enforced. Although several buildings reported damage, no casualties have been officially confirmed.
In Japan, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) recorded tsunami waves of 40 cm in Tokachi and 30 cm in Nemuro, both located on Hokkaido&rsquo;s coastline. Residents were urged to stay clear of shorelines, and emergency teams were activated.
The PTWC extended alerts to several countries including Hawaii, Alaska, Chile, the Solomon Islands, and New Zealand, warning that waves over 3 meters were possible.
In Honolulu, sirens blared and thousands were asked to evacuate low-lying areas before the expected 7:00 PM HST wave arrival. Emergency services stressed the need for urgent action to protect life and property.
The Kamchatka region lies within the Ring of Fire, one of the world&rsquo;s most seismically active zones, making such powerful events relatively frequent, though still dangerous.
Governments remain on high alert, and the public is advised to monitor official warnings, avoid coastal areas, and prepare for possible aftershocks or additional waves.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Waves up to 4 meters strike Pacific coasts after massive quake off Russia’s Kamchatka

Tsunami Hits Parts of Japan After 8.7 Quake

Waves up to 4 meters strike Pacific coasts after massive quake off Russia’s Kamchatka

July 30, 2025 | 15:18 IST