Tsunami warning today: Check countries and regions that are under high wave alert after 8.7 earthquake hits Russia’s Kamchatka

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific, leading to evacuation orders in Hawaii, parts of Japan, and coastal areas as far as Mexico and New Zealand.

Sirens blared across Honolulu on Wednesday afternoon, cutting through rush hour traffic as emergency officials urged people in low-lying zones to move to higher ground or shelter in upper floors. Schools cancelled all evening activities, and beaches were cleared statewide. Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency warned bluntly: “Destructive tsunami waves are expected. Take action now.”

In Japan, the Meteorological Agency issued evacuation instructions for over 900,000 people across 133 municipalities, mostly in Hokkaido and the northeast coast. The public broadcaster NHK repeatedly warned: “Get away from the coast immediately. Do not go back until it is declared safe.” Waves of up to 40cm have already reached parts of northern Japan, with warnings that stronger surges could follow.
The quake hit just after midnight local time, about 120 kilometres southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a depth of 20km. It’s the strongest earthquake recorded in the region since 1952. In Russia’s far east, tsunami waves up to four metres struck coastal towns, including Severo-Kurilsk. While there were no reports of deaths, several people were injured during evacuations — including one who jumped from a window in panic.

The US Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for Alaska, Hawaii, the US West Coast, and much of Latin America. Mexico’s navy warned of waves up to a metre along its Pacific coast. Warnings or watches were also issued in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. China’s Tsunami Warning Center said the quake could cause waves along the coasts of Zhejiang and Shanghai, while New Zealand told residents to avoid beaches due to strong currents and surges.

In the US, former President Donald Trump posted on X: “A Tsunami Warning is in effect for Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!”Japanese authorities shut down some train routes and ferries, and Sendai Airport closed its runway as a precaution. Tokyo Electric Power said no radiation leaks were detected, but 4,000 workers at Fukushima Daiichi were temporarily evacuated from coastal areas.Aftershocks as strong as magnitude 6.9 followed within hours. Russian scientists described the quake as a rare and “unique seismic event” and warned more tremors could follow.

Tsunami experts remind people: these waves don’t come as a single surge. They arrive in sets, often hours apart, and the first wave is rarely the biggest. If you’re near the coast and feel strong shaking — evacuate immediately. Don’t wait for an alert.

Sendai Airport in Japan closed its runway as a precaution. Some train services were suspended in coastal areas.

Japan’s nuclear plants along the coast, including Fukushima Daiichi, were temporarily shut down. Around 4,000 workers at the site evacuated to higher ground. Officials said no radiation leaks were detected.

Aftershocks, some over magnitude 6.5, have already followed the main quake. Scientists say more could come in the days ahead.

The Russian Academy of Sciences called it a “unique event”, warning that the region could see further seismic activity.

You can view the full map of affected zones and warnings at tsunami.gov.