Tsunami waves struck Hawaii and Japan on Tuesday morning following a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. Warnings and evacuation orders have been issued across the Pacific, including in North America, South America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The quake struck offshore near Kamchatka just after midnight local time. According to Russian officials, tsunami waves flooded parts of Severo-Kurilsk, sweeping through port areas and damaging buildings. No casualties have been confirmed in Russia, but the government declared a state of emergency in affected northern Kuril Islands.
The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed tsunami waves reached Hawaii’s shores by midday. A 5.7-foot wave was recorded in Kahului, Maui, and another measuring 4 feet hit Haleiwa, Oahu. Governor Josh Green urged residents to follow evacuation orders. “So far we have not seen a wave of consequence,” Green said in a briefing, “but we must stay alert. The danger has not passed.”
On the U.S. West Coast, tsunami waves reached California’s shoreline, impacting Arena Cove and Monterey. Emergency officials in British Columbia also issued an advisory, warning residents to avoid beaches and harbors.
In Japan, waves of 4.3 feet were recorded in Iwate Prefecture, prompting evacuation orders for 1.9 million people. The Japan Meteorological Agency said tsunami waves reached the coasts of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate. Public broadcaster NHK reported no major damage, but the threat remained. Trains along coastal routes were suspended and traffic jams slowed evacuations.
Evacuations also took place in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Indonesia’s eastern provinces. Indonesian officials urged citizens to move inland and avoid coastal areas. In Jayapura, residents were seen heading uphill with children and belongings.
Cruise passengers off Hawaii described panic as alerts sounded during island tours. Rachael Burrows, a British tourist, said she was among the last to reboard her ship before it departed to deeper waters. “Everyone was just running,” she told the press. “Sirens were blaring and the shops shut instantly.”
In California, reactions varied. At Manhattan Beach, some surfers considered returning to the water while families rushed to their cars. Heath Macleod, a father of two, said, “Once our youngest started crying, we knew it was time to leave.”
China initially issued tsunami alerts for Shanghai and Zhejiang but later lifted them. Taiwan remains under warning.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous waves may continue for hours and warned against returning to evacuation zones prematurely. “Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,” the agency stated.
In Russia’s Sakhalin region, power outages were reported after infrastructure was damaged. Emergency crews cleared debris in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky as video footage showed coastal streets submerged and buildings washed out to sea.
This earthquake is one of the strongest ever recorded in the region. Though the full extent of damage is still being assessed, authorities across the Pacific continue to issue alerts and track wave patterns as aftershocks persist.
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