Worldwide Tsunami Alerts After Massive Earthquake: Warnings in Hawaii, U.S. States, Russia, China, and More

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders across the Pacific region—including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, California, and parts of Southeast Asia.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located approximately 120 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The tremor was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including one measuring 6.9 magnitude.

The quake sparked widespread tsunami warnings. In Japan, more than 1.9 million people were ordered to evacuate to higher ground. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for much of the eastern coastline and advisories for other regions. Waves were expected to reach up to 3 meters, particularly in Hokkaido, the closest Japanese region to the epicenter. The highest recorded wave so far was 1.3 meters at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture.

Kiyomoto Masashi, an official from the agency, warned that tsunami waves could strike repeatedly over an extended period—potentially more than a day—and advised coastal residents to remain in evacuation zones until all warnings were lifted.

In Russia, a tsunami of 3–4 meters (10–13 feet) struck the Yelizovsky district and flooded a port in Severo-Kurilsk in the northern Kuril Islands. About 2,700 residents there were evacuated. Despite the quake’s power, Russia reported minimal damage overall, and the airport in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky remained operational.

In the United States, the National Weather Service issued tsunami warnings for Hawaii, Alaska’s western archipelago, and northern California. Tsunami advisories were in place for other parts of the U.S. West Coast. Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced evacuation orders and confirmed that the Midway Atoll registered two waves—one measuring 30 centimeters and another at 3 feet. While no major waves had impacted Hawaii’s Big Island by the time of his press conference, Green cautioned that the state would not be “all clear” for at least two to three hours.

Source: NOAA

“All flights in and out of Maui have been canceled,” Green added. Hawaiian and Alaskan Airlines confirmed that several flights were either diverted, returned to the mainland, or held as authorities awaited further information.

“You can expect a tsunami wave to hit the state, and it will not just hit one beach. It will wrap around the islands very likely,” Green warned. “Assume that [waves] will be life-threatening.”

The effects of the earthquake rippled throughout Asia. China’s Ministry of Natural Resources issued tsunami warnings for Zhejiang and Shanghai, forecasting waves of 30–40 centimeters between 5 and 7 p.m. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration warned of waves between 0.3 and 1 meter, while the Philippines issued an advisory for potential waves under 1 meter that could “continue for hours.”

Indonesia’s meteorological agency also issued warnings for 10 cities, including provinces in Papua and North Maluku, where waves of up to 0.5 meters were expected.

The quake ranks among the strongest ever recorded—second only to the 9.1-magnitude Tohoku earthquake in 2011 that led to Japan’s devastating tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster.