🌊 Tsunami Warnings Downgraded in U.S. After Massive Russia Quake

🌊 Tsunami Warnings Downgraded in U.S. After Massive Russia Quake

July 30, 2025 | Pacific Rim

Authorities across the Pacific have downgraded tsunami warnings following a powerful magnitude 8.8earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula earlier today. Initial alerts for the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii, and Japan have been scaled back as the major wave threat diminishes Indiatimes+7CBS News+7The Times+7Al Jazeera+11Reuters+11People.com+11.

⚡ The Earthquake and Initial Response

• The shallow quake, centered about 120 km east of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky at a depth of roughly 19 km, was the strongest in the region since 1952 Al Jazeera+5Reuters+5Reuters+5.

• In Russia’s Far East, waves of 3–5 meters inundated coastal towns, including Severo‑Kurilsk, prompting evacuations and localized flooding CBS News+7Reuters+7Reuters+7.

📉 Warning Downgrades Across the Pacific

🇺🇸 United States (Hawaii & West Coast)

• Hawaii initially issued tsunami warnings and evacuation orders for areas including the Big Island and Oahu. These were later downgraded to advisories and eventually lifted as officials determined that damage risk had passed The Guardian+5CBS News+5Indiatimes+5.

• U.S. West Coast states, including California, Oregon, and Washington, were placed under tsunami advisories. Local alerts were gradually lifted by Wednesday afternoon; only small coastal stretches—like near the California‑Oregon border—remained under advisory due to residual current threats CBS News+1Indiatimes+1.

🇯🇵 Japan

• Japan evacuated over 1.9 million coastal residents amid warnings of possible 3-meter waves. However, measured surges peaked around 1.3 meters, and many areas quickly downgraded alerts to advisories as conditions stabilized Reuters+3The Times+3Reuters+3.

🌍 Other Regions

• South America and the Pacific Islands, including the Marquesas and Galápagos, initially issued evacuation orders due to tsunami risks. In many of these areas, alerts remain active or have been cautiously downgraded as smaller-than-anticipated waves occurred ReutersThe Guardian.

• The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center continues to monitor coastal threat zones but has indicated that a major destructive tsunami is no longer expected The Times+1Wikipedia+1.

🧠 Experts & Emergency Insights

Experts emphasize that tsunami danger persists even after initial waves subside:

• Tsunamis often arrive as a series of waves and may continue to affect coastal zones for hours Indiatimes.

• Though downstream waves were smaller than feared, strong undercurrents and rip tides remain a hazard—especially around harbors, marinas, and waterfront infrastructure CBS NewsAP News.

While early tsunami warnings across the U.S., Japan, and other Pacific nations prompted widespread evacuations, those alerts have largely been downgraded or lifted. Measured wave heights were significantly lower than initial forecasts, and there have been no major casualties or structural damage reported outside Russia. However, officials caution that conditions may remain volatile as aftershocks and lingering waves continue to pose risks.