Massive Earthquake Off Russia Triggers Tsunami Warning In Hawaii; President Trump Issues Statement.
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at approximately 1:25 p.m. HST, prompting tsunami warnings across Hawaii and parts of Alaska, as well as advisories for California, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and American Samoa. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake occurred 85 miles east of Kamchatka at a depth of nearly 12 miles, with aftershocks of magnitudes 6.3 and 6.9 following shortly after. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a tsunami warning for Hawaii, urging residents to evacuate coastal areas and seek higher ground.
The earthquake, initially reported as magnitude 8.0 and later upgraded to 8.8, generated significant concern due to its potential to produce destructive tsunami waves. In Hawaii, warning sirens blared across the islands starting at 3:23 p.m. HST, with the PTWC estimating the first tsunami wave arrival at 7:17 p.m. HST in Hanalei. Authorities emphasized that tsunami waves can wrap around islands, putting all shores at risk regardless of their direction. “The danger can continue for many hours after the initial wave, as subsequent waves arrive. Tsunami heights cannot be predicted, and the first wave may not be the largest,” the National Weather Service (NWS) stated in an alert.
Emergency officials activated shelters on Oahu and urged residents to check tsunami evacuation zone maps, advising those in primary evacuation zones to move to high ground or the fourth floor of buildings at least ten stories tall. The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management reported server issues with their website due to high traffic, complicating access to evacuation information for some residents. In Russia, the quake caused minor damage, including to a kindergarten in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, but no injuries were reported. Japan also issued tsunami advisories for its Pacific coast, expecting waves up to 1 meter (3 feet) in Hokkaido and other regions.
President Donald Trump addressed the crisis in a post on Truth Social at 3:16 a.m. WAT (1:16 a.m. HST) on July 30, 2025, stating: “Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit http://hnlalert.gov for the latest information.” His statement aimed to alert residents and visitors to the ongoing threat and direct them to official resources for guidance.
This marks the second tsunami alert for Hawaii in less than two weeks, following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake off Kamchatka on July 19, 2025, which triggered a brief tsunami watch that was canceled after 39 minutes when no threat materialized. The PTWC continues to monitor the situation, updating alerts as new data becomes available. Residents are advised to stay away from coastal areas and follow local emergency instructions until the threat has passed.