A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, unleashing tsunami waves that reached Japan and Alaska, and triggered widespread alerts across Hawaii, North and Central America, and Pacific islands extending as far south as New Zealand. The epicentre lay off the Kamchatka Peninsula, where ports were inundated and residents evacuated inland. Northern Japan saw white, frothy waves wash ashore, while traffic gridlock gripped Honolulu, even in areas far from the coast, as people scrambled to higher ground. Authorities advised communities across the Pacific to stay on alert, warning that the danger could persist for over 24 hours. So far, affected areas have reported no significant damage. Tsunami waves reached heights of 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) in Kamchatka, 60 centimetres (2 feet) in Japan's Hokkaido island, and just under 30 centimetres in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. According the the United States Geological Survey details of the earthquake were as follows: M 8.8 – 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia Earthquake Time 2025-07-30 02:24:50 (UTC+03:00) Location 52.530°N 160.165°E Depth 20.7 km Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
