Footage captures tsunami hitting Kuril Islands
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A powerful 8.8‑magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, 2025, the strongest quake in the region since 1952, triggering tsunami waves that swept through coastal areas of the Kuril Islands, Hokkaido, and prompted warnings across the Pacific, including Hawaii.
A video circulated online captures tsunami waves surging into Severo‑Kurilsk on Paramushir Island, inundating shorelines, sweeping away small buildings and vessels, and flooding port areas.
🚨🌊 WATCH: Tsunami hits Severo-Kurilsk coast
📹 Social media users are sharing videos showing tsunami waves striking the coastal zone of Severo-Kurilsk, Russia, after a powerful earthquake off the Kamchatka coast. https://t.co/KGjkah43Xe pic.twitter.com/i8wa2FdKYi
Local officials reported waves up to 3–4 meters (10–13 feet) in height.
Though distant from Russia, Hokkaido in Japan also recorded significant pan-Pacific impact, with tsunami waves between 40–60 cm (1.3–2 ft) in places like Hamanaka and Iwate, and Tokyo Bay observed smaller surges.
Authorities instructed over 900,000 residents to evacuate coastal zones across Japan.
In Hawaii, initial tsunami waves were measured at about 1.8 meters (6 ft) near Midway Atoll, prompting evacuation orders, sirens, and disrupted travel during rush hour.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center extended alerts to coastal zones including Alaska, California, Oregon, and beyond.