On July 29, 2025, at 23:24 UTC (11:24 local time in Kamchatka), a magnitude Mw 8.8 earthquake shook the eastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, being one of the most intense recorded since the Japanese megathrust earthquake of 2011. With a depth of about 19 km, the quake generated a tsunami with waves of up to 5 meters in Severo-Kurilsk, causing coastal flooding and material damage without confirmed human losses.
🌍 Alert in several Pacific countries
Tsunami alerts were activated in numerous countries:
Japan, evacuating up to 2 million people, including workers from the Fukushima plant, with waves estimated at up to 3 m in some areas
In Hawaii, waves of approximately 1.7 to 1.8 m, with no major damages reported.
On the west coast of the U.S. (California, Alaska), smaller waves were recorded and alerts were reduced
In Chile, between 65 and 125 ports were closed and coastal communities were evacuated, including Easter Island.
In Colombia, Peru, Ecuador (Galapagos Islands), Mexico, as well as in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Canada, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Taiwan, alerts and preventive measures were also announced.
🧯 Response, damages, and assessments
Although a 'monster' tsunami was expected, it did not materialize in many areas, thanks to the absence of underwater landslides and factors such as the structure of the seabed and the shape of the coastline.
Russian authorities reported minor injuries and material damages, with no fatalities, while in Japan, an accidental death was reported during the evacuation.
After the quake, the Klyuchevskoy volcano was activated, which has increased concerns about additional volcanic risks.
It is estimated that it will take a week to complete the damage assessment in Kamchatka and surrounding areas.