8.7 magnitude quake: Tsunami waves hit Russia coast and Japan’s Hokkaido; alerts in place for Alaska, Hawaii

The first tsunami waves, triggered by the powerful 8.7 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s far east, struck the coast near Severo-Kurilsk, according to early reports, while waves also reached Japan’s Hokkaido. The entire US West Coast is on high alert, as waves are likely to hit Hawaii, Alaska, Chile, and the Solomon Islands.

Videos posted on X showed seawater breaching structures as the tide surged inland.

NOW - Tsunami waves hit Russian coast along Severo-Kurilsk. pic.twitter.com/1cxuFHohVL

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 30, 2025

The initial waves also stuck the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, which has a population of about 2,000 people, according to the Russian emergencies ministry.

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“The tsunami flooded parts of the port town of Severo-Kurilsk … The population has been evacuated,” the ministry said in an official statement.

Footage circulating on Russian social media showed sections of the town submerged under seawater, with buildings partially underwater.

Initial waves reach Japan’s Hokkaido

In Japan, public broadcaster NHK reported that the initial wave reached northern Hokkaido, measuring about 30 centimeters (one foot). Authorities warned that larger waves could follow.

Japan’s meteorological agency had earlier forecast waves as high as three meters along much of the country’s northern and eastern coastline, extending as far south as Wakayama, near Osaka.

Alerts in place

The US National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Aleutian Islands and a watch for areas along the West Coast, including California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The alert also covers large parts of Alaska’s coastline, including parts of the panhandle.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves between 1 to 3 meters above normal sea level could hit coastal areas in Hawaii, Chile, Japan, and the Solomon Islands. In parts of Russia and Ecuador, waves could be even higher—over 3 meters.

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