An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russ

🌍 Massive Quake Hits Kamchatka Region

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia, early on July 30, 2025.

Originally estimated at 8.0, the quake’s strength was later upgraded twice by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was about 120 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, in the Kuril–Kamchatka arc, one of the most seismically active parts of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

🌀 Historic Scale and Aftershocks

This quake is the strongest in the region since 1952, when a similar event caused 9-meter tsunamis and killed over 2,300 people. It now ranks among the ten most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, comparable to Japan’s 2011 Tōhoku disaster.

Aftershocks of magnitude 6.9 and 6.3 have already hit, and experts warn of possible quakes up to 7.5 in the coming weeks.

🏠 Local Damage and Tsunami Impacts

Severo-Kurilsk saw 4-meter tsunami waves, forcing 2,000 people to evacuate. In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, homes shook and “mirrors broke, cars swayed, and cabinets fell.” A kindergarten wall collapsed, but no serious injuries were reported. Power and phone service were disrupted. Evacuations were also carried out on Sakhalin Island.

🌊 Global Alerts and Emergency Response

Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific. In Japan, up to 1.9 million people were evacuated, and 30–50 cm waves were recorded in Hokkaido. The Fukushima nuclear plant evacuated ~4,000 staff. Hawaii saw 4-foot waves; flights and ports were halted. In California, waves of up to 1.7 meters were expected, and coasts were cleared.

Several nations, including Chile, Peru, Indonesia, and New Zealand, also issued alerts. Russia, Japan, and the U.S. activated emergency systems and evacuation protocols.

“This is the strongest earthquake in the region since 1952.”
“First tsunami waves of 30–50 cm reached Ishinomaki, Nemuro, and Tokachi.”
“Houses shook, mirrors broke, cars swayed, cabinets fell.”