A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Pacific coast of Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula on Tuesday, as confirmed by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake has prompted a tsunami alert for Russia’s far east coast and a tsunami watch for Hawaii, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
BREAKING: 8.0-magnitude earthquake hits off Russia’s Kamchatka region – PTWC pic.twitter.com/4uFjXYq17O
— blesha (@blesha_bs) July 29, 2025
Tsunami Alerts Issued
The National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami watch for the entire state of Hawaii. The USGS noted that the quake was both strong and shallow enough to potentially cause a tsunami, raising concerns for coastal communities.
TSUNAMI ADVISORY 1: See https://t.co/npoUHxWBas for alert areas. M8.0 080mi SE Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka 1625PDT Jul 29 pic.twitter.com/CQweoPZWne
— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) July 29, 2025
Details of the Earthquake
The epicenter of the earthquake was located 133 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 74 km, per USGS reports.
Broader Impact Across the Pacific
In addition to the alerts for Hawaii and Russia, the tsunami watch extends to regions in Japan, Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and other nearby islands, as detailed by the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued several tsunami alerts affecting various regions:
Tsunami Advisory Areas:
- South Alaska and Alaska Peninsula: Chignik Bay to Unimak Pass
- Aleutian Islands: Unimak Pass to Samalga Pass
Tsunami Watch Areas:
- California: Coastal regions from the Mexico border to the Oregon border, including San Francisco Bay
- Oregon: Coastal areas from the California border to the Washington border, including the Columbia River estuary
- Washington: Outer coast to Slip Point, encompassing the Columbia River estuary and Juan de Fuca Strait
- British Columbia: Northern coast, Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island, and the Juan de Fuca Strait
- Southeast Alaska: From the British Columbia border to Cape Fairweather
- South Alaska and Alaska Peninsula: Cape Fairweather to Chignik Bay
Stay informed and take safety precautions as these alerts are in effect.
