Tsunami Warning Updates: Tsunami warning lifted for Hawaii, Russia and Japan still on high alert

Flights have restarted at Honolulu International Airport in Hawaii, according to the Hawaii transportation department.

The Hawaiian Emergency Management Agency (EMA) announced that commercial harbours will also reopen, news agency Reuters reports.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has downgraded Hawaii’s tsunami warning to an advisory, stating that “a major tsunami is not expected to strike the state of Hawaii.”

The PTWC, operated by the National Weather Service, said in an alert:

Based on all available data a major tsunami is not expected to strike the state of hawaii. However…sea level changes and strong currents may occur along all coasts that could be a hazard to swimmers and boaters as well as to persons near the shore at beaches and in harbors and marinas.”

Shanghai has evacuated almost 283,000 people from vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas as Typhoon Co-May approaches, bringing lashing rains and high winds, state media reported Wednesday.

Almost a third of flights from Shanghai’s two international airports have been cancelled, the city’s news service said, totalling around 640.

The Shanghai Central Meteorological Observatory on Wednesday afternoon upgraded an earlier yellow rainstorm alert to orange, the second-highest warning level.

Following a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, tsunami waves were observed in Hawaii and parts of California, prompting alerts across the Pacific.

The quake, which occurred at a depth of 21 kilometres, triggered a tsunami warning.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green reassured the public, stating, “everything has been OK so far, we haven’t seen a big wave.”

A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday has reignited speculation around a decades-old manga prophecy. The quake sent tsunami waves toward Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido and Russia’s Kuril Islands—just weeks after the date predicted in Japanese artist Ryo Tatsuki’s 1999 manga The Future I Saw.

Baba Vanga’s 2025 prophecy had already shaken Japan’s tourism industry — but no one expected it to be this accurate. A massive quake near Russia triggered real tsunami waves that hit both Japan and Russia. Chilling. 🌊🇯🇵🇷🇺 #BabaVanga #Japan2025 #Tsunami pic.twitter.com/Qkm6OZsyza

— WarMonitor🚨 (@GallopingMo) July 30, 2025

Tatsuki had warned of a major disaster on July 5, 2025, in southern Japan. While the exact date passed without incident, the powerful quake and tsunami—occurring just 25 days later—has led many online to argue the prediction may have referred to a broader timeframe. Social media users are calling the timing “uncannily close,” with one post on X reading, “Not the exact date, but you have to respect Ryo Tatsuki.”

Fans continue to pore over the manga, which is believed to have foreshadowed events like Princess Diana’s death, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Japan’s 2011 tsunami.

Following the tsunami’s arrival in Hawaii, California is now on alert as waves are expected to strike its coastline in the coming hours. The warnings were triggered after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday morning.

Authorities have urged residents in low-lying coastal zones to evacuate and move to higher ground. According to the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center, the first waves could reach the Bay Area by around 12:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday(July 30).

As tsunami warnings remain in effect across Hawaii, Oprah Winfrey has opened her private road in Maui to support evacuation efforts, her spokesperson said to CNN.

The road is being used under the supervision of local law enforcement and FEMA, with about 50 vehicles allowed through at a time. The access will remain open as long as needed, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, a wave over five feet high was recorded in Kahului on Maui’s north-central coast.

New Zealand’s emergency management agency has issued a low-level tsunami threat for coastal regions nationwide following the massive earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

Authorities warned of “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore,” advising people to leave beaches, harbors, estuaries, and marinas. Those on boats or living aboard vessels were urged to come ashore, and the public was warned not to gather along the coast to watch for incoming waves.

As tsunami waves continue to impact Hawaii, the US Navy has taken active measures to assist with evacuations and ensure public safety, a spokesperson confirmed.

At Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu, vessels have been secured and shoreline areas cleared, according to Navy Region Hawaii spokesperson Lydia Robertson. The military also opened an access route along Oahu’s western Waianae Coast to aid evacuation efforts.

Robertson added that the Navy is helping relay critical updates from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and NOAA both based on the island, to the public.

“Our top priority is safety as we monitor conditions and remain prepared for any changes

The tsunami warning issued for Alaska’s Western Aleutian Islands has been downgraded to a less severe advisory.

According to officials, the advisory now covers the Aleutian Island chain and the Alaska Peninsula from Attu Island to Chignik Bay. Waves in these areas are not expected to rise above 1.5 feet, but residents are advised to stay alert to further updates.

Hawaii has begun to experience multiple tsunami waves ,some exceeding five feet, but no major damage has been reported yet, Governor Josh Green said in a press briefing on Tuesday evening (local time).

“So far, we have not seen a wave of consequence, which is a great relief,” Green stated, adding that it could take another two to three hours before an official all-clear is issued. “At the moment, so good — but we don’t want anyone letting their guard down just yet.”

Tsunami Warning Press Conference #3

07/29/2025 8:20PM https://t.co/LgsfAQkd6s

— Hawaii EMA (@Hawaii_EMA) July 30, 2025

Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and avoid calling 911 unless in a real emergency, to keep lines open. Green confirmed there had been no power outages, and no plans to cut electricity preemptively. While airports have remained unaffected by the waves, all flights in and out of Maui have been canceled for the night, with nearly 200 people now sheltering at the airport terminal.

Describing an earlier incident on Oahu’s north shore, the governor said, “When that water receded in Haleiwa and we saw boats sitting on bare rocks and sand, that gave us pause. That doesn’t happen without something significant approaching.”

Hawaii Gov Josh Green says flights to and from Maui have been cancelled, while airports remain unaffected by tsunami waves so far, according to Reuters.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (EMA) confirmed that all commercial harbors have been closed as a precaution. Green added that there are currently no plans to cut power and emphasised that, so far, the state has not witnessed any significant waves.

A 1.3-meter (4.3-foot) tsunami struck a port in Japan’s northern Iwate prefecture at 1:52 p.m. local time (0452 GMT), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency has maintained its tsunami alerts, warning that waves up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) could still hit Japan’s Pacific coastline following the powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

Tsunami waves have already reached parts of Alaska, while Hawaii is expected to be hit momentarily, according to the US Tsunami Warning Center. A tsunami warning, the highest level alert, remains in effect for Hawaii, Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, and parts of Northern California. Meanwhile, the rest of the US West Coast is under a tsunami advisory.

Here are the estimated local arrival times (IST in brackets):

• Oregon and Washington: Around 11:35 pm PT (12:05 pm IST)
• California:

1. Northern coast around 11:50 pm PT (12:20 pm IST)
2. San Francisco Bay at approximately 12:40 am PT (1:10 pm IST)
3. Los Angeles Harbor around 1:00 am PT (1:30 pm IST)

Mexico’s navy has warned that tsunami waves could begin hitting Ensenada, near the US border, at approximately 2:22 am local time (2:52 pm IST) on Wednesday, potentially advancing southward along the Pacific coast to Chiapas by 7:15 am (6:45 pm IST).

In Canada, British Columbia’s emergency agency stated that waves are expected to reach Langara Island around 10:05 p.m. Tuesday (10:35 am IST) and Tofino by 11:30 pm, cautioning that “multiple waves over time” are likely.

Meanwhile, Oregon’s Emergency Management Department forecast smaller waves, between 1 to 2 feet, expected to hit the coast around 11:40 pm local time.

In Hawaii, the US Tsunami Warning Centers issued the highest-level warning, with the first waves forecast to strike at 7:17 pm local time (10:47 am IST / 0517 GMT).

Authorities in California’s Monterey County have issued an evacuation alert for those living on boats in Moss Landing, a popular coastal hub for tourists and surfers.

Tsunami waves are expected to reach the county’s shoreline around 12:15 am PT, the Sheriff’s Office said, urging boat dwellers to find alternative lodging during the ongoing tsunami advisory.

Ocean water along parts of Hawaii’s coastline has begun pulling back, a common sign of an approaching tsunami, according to live webcam footage.

Webcams on the islands of Kauai and Oahu, including near Honolulu, show significant drops in sea level over the past hour—an early indicator that tsunami waves may be imminent.

The Consulate General of India in San Francisco has issued a tsunami alert for Indian nationals after the massive quake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

🚨🚨🚨

The Consulate General of India in San Francisco is monitoring the potential tsunami threat following the recent 8.7 magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Indian nationals in California, other US West Coast states, and Hawaii are advised to take the…

— India in SF (@CGISFO) July 30, 2025

In a post on X, the Consulate urged those in California, other US West Coast states, and Hawaii to follow local authorities’ instructions closely, especially in coastal areas. It added that the situation was being monitored closely and urged caution amid ongoing alerts.

Should a tsunami materialise, California’s coastline faces a range of potential impacts, according to the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center.

The first waves are expected to strike the North Coast around 11:50 pm (local time) on Tuesday, reaching the Los Angeles area by 1 am In Los Angeles, the impact is anticipated to be minimal, with waves expected to be less than 1 foot.

Crescent City, however, could face a more significant threat, with waves potentially reaching up to 4.8 feet and lasting as long as 30 hours. The city has a history of tsunami devastation, notably in 2011, when a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off Japan’s east coast generated a tsunami that destroyed Crescent City’s harbour and claimed one life.

Another area of concern is Port San Luis in San Luis Obispo County, where waves could reach between 2 and 3.7 feet. For the rest of California’s coastline, the warning centre predicts smaller waves, measuring 1.3 feet or less.

The National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center has released a timeline for potential tsunami wave arrivals along the California coast.

According to the agency, the Fort Bragg region could see waves as early as 11:50 pm local time on Tuesday. Other parts of California’s west coast may experience tsunami waves into late Wednesday night, with areas like La Jolla and Oceanside potentially affected around 1:15 am (local time) on Wednesday.

The mayor of Russia’s northern Kuril islands district said Wednesday that “everyone” there had evacuated to safety following a tsunami which caused flooding and swept away buildings.

“Everyone was evacuated. There was enough time, a whole hour. So everyone was evacuated, all the people are in the tsunami safety zone,” Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov said at a crisis meeting with officials.

(With inputs from AFP)

Hawaii is bracing for impact as the first tsunami wave is anticipated to strike in approximately 30 minutes. Governor Josh Green reported that a three-foot wave, measured above sea level, was recorded as the tsunami passed Midway Atoll, northwest of Hawaii.

During a briefing, Green emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating: “This is a very serious event. … Please do not put yourself in harm’s way.”

Shanghai is reeling under the combined impact of a tropical cyclone and a looming tsunami threat, leading to the relocation of over 280,000 residents and the suspension of hundreds of flights and ferry services on Wednesday.

Tropical Cyclone Co-May made landfall in Zhoushan, a port city in Zhejiang province, in the early hours of Wednesday. Shortly after, authorities issued urgent tsunami warnings triggered by a powerful earthquake off Russia’s far east.

After a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, Japan issued evacuation warnings for several coastal regions. As initial tsunami waves, measuring around 30 cm, reached Hokkaido’s eastern shoreline, residents were seen climbing atop tall buildings to seek safety, responding swiftly to local sirens and advisories.

Rooftops fill in Japan as tsunami alerts spread

First waves are smaller than feared, but officials warn bigger ones could follow pic.twitter.com/qkorq9G0T7

— RT (@RT_com) July 30, 2025

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has called on residents in low-lying areas to head to higher ground as tsunami alerts remain in effect following the massive quake off Russia. Speaking to KITV, Blangiardi said warning sirens had been activated and evacuation traffic was building across the city.

“We need people to stay calm but also to act accordingly,” he said. “If you’re in a vulnerable area, please move now.”

He emphasised that the city was taking precautionary steps and urged residents not to panic, “Everything we’re doing is to give people as much time and warning as possible.”

Hawaii is bracing for the first impact of the tsunami, expected to arrive around 7:17 p.m. local time, just minutes away.

Governor Josh Green said wave gauges near Midway Atoll, northwest of the islands, recorded a rise of about three feet above sea level as the tsunami passed. In a press briefing, he urged residents to stay clear of danger zones:

“This is a very serious event… Please do not put yourself in harm’s way.”