A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on June 28 at 11:24 PETT (23:24 UTC), sending shockwaves across the Pacific and triggering widespread tsunami alerts. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake at a shallow depth of 19.3 kilometres with its epicentre located 133 kilometres south of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a major city in the seismically active region.
Violent Tremors Rattle Kamchatka; Minimal Damage Reported
Videos and images posted to social media captured buildings swaying violently and household items crashing to the ground. Though no deaths or major structural collapses were reported, authorities confirmed damage to a kindergarten in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, home to around 165,000 residents. Emergency services were swiftly deployed, and assessments of damage are ongoing.
Tsunami Waves Hit Kuril Islands and Trigger Warnings Across Pacific
The earthquake generated tsunami waves across the Pacific Ring of Fire, with waves reaching 3 to 4 meters on the island of Severo-Kurilsk in the Kuril Islands. The waves mildly affected ports and fish-processing plants but caused no major destruction. The Japan Meteorological Agency first recorded a magnitude of 8.0 before revising it to 8.8 and issued a tsunami warning for Hokkaido, located about 250 kilometres from the epicentre.
Mass Evacuations in Japan; Waves Reach Nemuro and Other Cities
A 30-centimetre tsunami wave was observed in Nemuro, eastern Hokkaido, while authorities warned of waves as high as 3 meters along the coast. Nearly 550,000 people were ordered to evacuate across seven prefectures, affecting a total of over 1.9 million people in 21 prefectures. Japanese officials advised residents to remain in higher ground areas until further notice.
Tsunami Alerts Issued for U.S., Indonesia, New Zealand
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for Hawaii, the Aleutian Islands, and the U.S. West Coast, including California, Oregon, and Washington. Hawaii recorded tsunami waves of up to 4 feet at Haleiwa, Oahu, and 3 feet at Hanalei. Authorities halted air travel to and from Maui, shut down commercial harbours, and instructed residents to evacuate to higher floors and hillsides.
Indonesia’s Geophysics Agency issued tsunami alerts for North Sulawesi and West Papua, anticipating waves of up to 0.5 meters by the afternoon of June 28. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency advised people to avoid beaches and coastal waters due to dangerous and unpredictable currents.
Region on Edge After Historic Seismic Activity
Kamchatka, located in one of the world’s most seismically active zones, has a long history of powerful earthquakes. In 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in the region sent 9.1-meter waves toward Hawaii. Earlier this month, the area experienced a 7.4-magnitude tremor, part of a series of seismic events. Russian authorities have warned of possible aftershocks reaching up to 7.5 in magnitude in the coming weeks.
Ongoing Monitoring and Preparedness Across the Pacific
Emergency agencies across the Pacific continue to monitor the situation closely. Coastal communities remain on high alert as aftershocks and potential secondary effects pose ongoing risks. Authorities urge the public to stay informed through official updates and avoid low-lying coastal areas until all-clear signals are given.