Evacuations were ordered across the Pacific Ocean after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday.
Tsunami waves over 3 meters high were recorded in the Russian Pacific town of Severo-Kurilsk, with some waves reaching up to 5 meters, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday, citing emergency services. CNBC was unable to confirm the report.
Over in Hawaii, residents along the coast were told to move to the fourth floor or above in buildings with at least 10 stories. The Emergency Management Agency ordered all commercial habors to be closed and warned that “the arrival of tsunami waves can happen over a period of hours.” Hawaii Governor Josh Green said all flights in and out of Maui were canceled.
Japan issued an evacuation alert after the major earthquake, while warning alerts of a tsunami were sounded in coastal towns across the country’s Pacific coast. According to Japan’s Kyodo news agency, automaker Nissan Motor suspended operations at some domestic factories.
Take a look at some of the photos below.
Residents and visitors found themselves backed up in traffic as they tried to leave the the Ala Wai Harbor, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii on July 29, 2025, after an earthquake off Russia’s Far East prompted tsunami alerts.
People queueing up to pay for their parking as they leave the beachside area at Inage Seaside Park after much of coastal Japan went on tsunami alert following a quake in the sea off eastern Russia, along Tokyo Bay in Chiba City, Chiba prefecture, on July 30, 2025.
A screen grab from a video shows people being evacuated after magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit the Kamchatka Peninsula and a tsunami partially flooded the area, including the grounds of the Alaid fishing enterprise, on July 30, 2025, in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia.
An aerial view of the flooded city of Severo-Kurilsk after a tsunami triggered by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025.
A boat leaves the Ala Wai Harbor, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii on July 29, 2025, after an 8.7 earthquake off of Russia’s far east prompted tsunami alerts.
Police officers ask a man to evacuate an empty beach after a tsunami warning in Fujisawa city, Kanagawa prefecture, on July 30, 2025.
People leave the beachside area at Inage Seaside Park after a tsunami alert on July 30, 2025.
Russian Governor of Kamchatka Krai Vladimir Solodov holds an urgent meeting of the commission for the prevention and elimination of emergency situations following the earthquake.
Masashi Kiyomoto, an expert on earthquake and tsunami countermeasures from the Japan Meteorological Agency, holds a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2025.
People stand outside Katase Enoshima station, closed after a tsunami warning, in Fujisawa city, Kanagawa prefecture, on July 30, 2025.
An empty Katase Enoshima station after a tsunami warning, in Fujisawa city, Kanagawa prefecture, on July 30, 2025.
