Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido was one of the first places to report tsunami waves, along with parts of Russia.
So far, the waves have measured about 30 to 40 cm (1 to 1.3 feet) – less than the initial forecast of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet).
But it’s difficult to say what that may mean for other places, as the scale of waves may differ between locations. And, as Japanese authorities have warned, sometimes second or third waves are larger than the first.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the tsunami advisory following the earthquake of Russia’s coast, his press office posted on X.
“We encourage everyone to stay alert and follow guidance from local emergency personnel,” the post reads.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she has been briefed on the tsunami advisory in effect for the LA region.
Her team is in touch with coastal leaders and the Port of Los Angeles for overnight preparations, she said on X.
The powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s remote far eastern coast Kamchatka, early on Wednesday is tied for the sixth-strongest quake ever recorded.
It ranks alongside the devastating 2010 Chile earthquake, which killed over 500 people and caused major destruction, and a 1906 earthquake in Ecuador and Colombia, which triggered a tsunami that claimed up to 1,500 lives.
Dangerous currents are expected to begin in the San Francisco area around 12:40 a.m. PT (1:10 pm IST) Wednesday, the city’s Department of Emergency Management warned in an alert.
“A Tsunami Advisory means strong, dangerous currents are expected to impact San Francisco beaches, harbor and marina docks, and finger piers in shoreline areas,” the alert said. “Dangerous currents are expected to begin at 12:40am tonight (7/30) and may last for many hours. San Francisco’s public safety agencies are working together to evaluate whether the evacuation of shoreline areas is necessary, and will send out additional alerts as soon as possible.”
The US Tsunami Warning System also issued a warning of “hazardous tsunami waves” within the next three hours.
Waves reaching more than 3 metres were possible along some coasts of Russia and Ecuador, while waves of 1-3 metres were possible in Japan, Hawaii, Chile and the Solomon Islands, it said. Smaller waves were possible along coastlines across much of the Pacific, including the U.S. West Coast.
Hawaii ordered evacuations from some coastal areas. “Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected,” the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said on X.
The Hawaii warning urged residents of low-lying areas to either move to higher ground or to the fourth floor of a building.
The Japan Weather Agency upgraded its warning, saying it expected tsunami waves of up to 3 metres (10 feet) to reach large coastal areas starting around 0100 GMT. Public broadcaster NHK said evacuation orders had been issued by the government for some areas.
“Please evacuate quickly. If you can, move quickly to higher ground and away from the coast,” a NHK newscaster said.
Factory workers and residents in Japan’s northern Hokkaido evacuated to a hill overlooking the ocean, footage from broadcaster TBS showed.
US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to post a warning for US West Coast amid Tsunami alerts.
“Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit tsunami.gov/ for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!” he said.
A series of powerful aftershocks have hit Russia following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake which struck off Kamchatka’s Peninsula Wednesday.
A 6.9 magnitude quake hit 147 kilometres (91 miles) southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, about 45 minutes after the initial quake, according to the USGS. Minutes later, a 6.3 magnitude quake hit 131 kilometres (81 miles) southeast of Vilyuchinsk.
A further nine quakes of magnitudes between 5.4 and 5.8 have also hit the same areas in the hours following the 8.8 earthquake, USGS said.
he Philippines and Indonesia have both issued tsunami warnings following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the eastern coast of Russia.
Some coastal areas in the Philippines facing the Pacific Ocean are expected to experience tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3.3 feet) in height, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLS) said in an updated advisory.
The first tsunami waves are expected to arrive between 1:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. local time on Wednesday based on the institute’s projections.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency has also issued a warning that tsunami waves of less than 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) could hit some parts of Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon.
