Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild

Millions return home as Pacific tsunami warnings lifted

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 31 Jul 2025 08:20
3 Min Read

A powerful 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered mass evacuations across the Pacific Rim before tsunami warnings were lifted.

Listen
  • x
  • The eastern Russian town of Severo-Kurilsk was hit by a tsunami on July 30, 2025, after an major earthquake in the Kamchatka peninsula.
    The eastern Russian town of Severo-Kurilsk was hit by a tsunami on July 30, 2025. (AFP)

Countries across the Pacific Rim lifted tsunami warnings on Wednesday, allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

The Pacific earthquake of 2025, one of the strongest ever recorded, rattled Russia’s sparsely populated Far East and triggered widespread tsunami alerts across more than a dozen countries, including Japan, the US, and Ecuador. Coastal residents were urged to evacuate, and storm surges of up to four meters were forecasted for certain regions.

The earthquake struck off the coast of Kamchatka, in Russia’s Far East, and was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including one that measured 6.9 in magnitude. Russian scientists had warned of potential aftershocks reaching up to 7.5 magnitude.

Watch the waves from yesterday’s M8.8 megathrust earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula roll across seismic stations in North America. Just amazing. pic.twitter.com/x1Ji2akphy

— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) July 30, 2025

The US Geological Survey noted that the quake was one of the 10 strongest globally since 1900.

According to Russia’s Geophysical Survey, the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted shortly after the quake: "Red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions," the agency said.

The worst tsunami-related damage occurred in Severo-Kurilsk, where a surge of water flooded the local fishing plant and swept buildings and debris into the sea. The wave reached as far as the town’s World War II monument, located about 400 meters from the shoreline, according to Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov.

Despite the scale of the quake, Russia reported only light injuries and limited structural damage.

Japan evacuates nearly two million

In Japan, nearly two million people were ordered to higher ground. Although waves as high as 0.7 meters were still observed on Thursday, the initial tsunami warnings were downgraded to advisories for much of the Pacific coast.

"We urge the public not to go in coastal waters and please stay away from coasts," a seismologist at Japan’s meteorological agency said. Local media reported one fatality, a woman whose car fell off a cliff while she was evacuating.

Chile’s Interior Ministry described the event as "perhaps the most massive evacuation ever carried out in our country," with 1.4 million people directed to safer areas inland. Despite the scale of the operation, Chile registered waves of only 60 centimeters along its northern coast, with no reported casualties or damage.

In the Galapagos Islands, where waves of up to three meters had been anticipated, only a one-meter surge was reported. The Ecuadoran navy’s oceanographic institute declared the danger had passed. Santa Cruz resident Isabel Grijalva expressed relief: "Everything is calm, I’m going back to work. The restaurants are reopening, and the places tourists visit are also open again."

The regional seismic monitoring service in Kamchatka stated that Wednesday’s quake was the strongest in the region since 1952. The USGS estimated a 59% likelihood of another aftershock exceeding magnitude 7.0 within the following week.

Authorities across the Pacific Rim remain on high alert, but the lifting of tsunami warnings signals a return to relative calm after a tense 24 hours.

  • Kamchatka
  • Volcano eruption
  • Tsunami
  • Klyuchevskoy
  • earthquake

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS