On July 30, 2025, a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially estimated the quake’s magnitude at 8.0, but it was later upgraded twice to 8.8. This event ranks as the sixth-strongest earthquake ever recorded .
The earthquake occurred at 11:24 a.m. local time (23:24 UTC on July 29) and had a depth of approximately 20.7 km (12.9 mi). The epicenter was located about 119 km (74 mi) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia’s largest city on the peninsula .
The quake triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami, with waves reaching up to 4 meters (13 feet) in some areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific, including Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast. However, the tsunami’s impact was less severe than initially feared, with many warnings being downgraded as the situation developed .
While the earthquake caused significant shaking and minor damage in some areas, no fatalities have been reported. The event underscores the ongoing seismic activity in the Pacific Ring of Fire and highlights the importance of robust early warning systems in mitigating disaster impacts.
