Tsunami alert in multiple countries after powerful quake off Russia’s Kamchatka

Addis Ababa, July 30, 2025 (FMC) – The Kamchatka region was struck by a powerful earthquake on Wednesday. According to the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the magnitude was estimated at up to 8.7 — the strongest recorded in the area since 1952.

“The situation is under control. All emergency services of the Kamchatka branch of the Federal Research Centre ‘Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ are operating in emergency mode,” the agency reported on social media.

The natural disaster occurred on 30 July at around 12:00 local time (GMT+12). The epicentre was located 149 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Following the main quake, 30 further tremors with intensities ranging from 2 to 5 on the Richter scale were recorded. A state of emergency has been declared in the regional capital.

According to Kamchatka governor Vladimir Solodov, there have been no fatalities or serious injuries reported. However, the threat of both tsunamis and aftershocks remains. Four tsunamis have already been recorded in the Severo-Kurilsky district of the Sakhalin region.

A tsunami warning has also been issued in several other countries, including Indonesia, China, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador and others.

China’s Ministry of Natural Resources has declared a yellow alert, TV BRICS reported today, citing its Chinese partner media Xinhua News Agency.

The report notes that the quake may affect Shanghai and the southern part of Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province.

Indonesia’s Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics has warned that waves of up to 0.5 metres could reach several parts of the country. Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and avoid the shoreline, according to ANTARA.

Mexico’s Tsunami Warning Centre has announced expected wave heights ranging from 0.3 to 1 metre along the country’s western coast.

Meanwhile, Alicia Cebrian, Director of Chile’s National Disaster Management Service, stated that a tsunami could reach the country’s shores at approximately 14:51 local time. Chilean President Gabriel Boric noted on social media that in the event of a tsunami, evacuations would begin three hours prior to the estimated arrival of the wave. A meeting of the Risk Management Committee is already under way.