On the morning of July 30th, 2025 in the far northeast of Russia, the ground gave way. Violent shaking swayed trees, triggered car alarms, and collapsed walls. Chimneys shattered and sections of ceilings fell. An 8.8 earthquake had hit the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia, the most powerful earthquake since 2011. People frantically ran out of buildings as the shaking continued for about 4 minutes. Later, volcanoes exploded, aftershocks continued, and tsunami warnings were issued in Russia and several pacific countries. So what happened on that day, and how can we prepare for these dangerous events?
The earthquake that struck Russia occurred on the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone, about 12 miles down. It ruptured greater than 360 miles of the fault, and the USGS estimates it displaced the land by nearly 10 meters (~ 30 feet). A shallow, large megathrust earthquake is the type that can induce a destructive tsunami. To make matters worse, the rupture displaced the second-biggest amount of water ever measured by instruments. Many feared a catastrophic tsunami was inevitable. Large tsunamis not only destroy settlements near their source, but can affect coasts across an entire ocean. They also move hundreds of miles per hour and can arrive at the shore within hours. Evacuations were urged in Russia, Japan, Hawaii, and many other pacific countries and territories. Cars were wedged in traffic as thousands of people headed for higher ground.
The 2025 Kamchatka earthquake is one of several large tsunami generating events this century. The most famous and deadliest was the devastating 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. A 9.3 magnitude earthquake ruptured 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) of ground by the Sunda Trench, according to the U.S. geological survey. It happened on December 26th, when many travelers were visiting the tropical countries for the holiday break. This enormous displacement generated a tsunami reaching over 30 meters high. It devastated countries around the Indian Ocean and became one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states approximately 230,000 people lost their lives in the event. Another massive earthquake struck Japan in 2011. The 9.1 quake caused a 40 meter high tsunami that reached 6 miles inland in a couple areas. The tsunami caused almost 243 billion dollars in damage across Japan, making it the most expensive natural disaster in history.
The Russian Kamchatka area itself has experienced large earthquakes in its history. The largest event happened in 1737, measuring magnitude of 9.3. Other significant quakes are a 9.0 quake in 1841, a 9.0 in 1952, and many disasters over 8.0 in 1953, 1959, and 2020. So tsunamis can cause immense destruction, but how do they happen? The ones previously mentioned were from earthquakes, but how do these earthquakes generate tsunamis?
Our planet is made up of rock. Most of the rock is liquid below the surface, called the mantle. The earth’s surface, the crust, is not one solid layer. It is made up of many pieces, which are called tectonic plates. The tectonic plates rest on top of the mantle, and kind of float as the mantle’s currents push the plates around. If two tectonic plates bump into each other, some things can happen. First, they can slide past each other, which creates a transform boundary between the plates. Second the plates can collide, which can form mountains (convergent boundary). The convergent boundary can make one plate go under the other, which is subduction. Subduction can generate megathrust earthquakes. Megathrusts are giant releases of energy from the pressure built on the plates. This is exactly what happened in Russia.
The waves reached Russia, but not as expected. Something was off. An earthquake that strong should have sent extremely large tsunami waves, but the waves observed were barely more than 6 meters (~20 feet). They destroyed ports and did significant damage, but the water wasn’t ravaging. Things away from the shore were spared from most destruction. Scientists believe there were tall runups on remote areas of the peninsula. Like other tsunamis, this runup height went somewhat unanticipated. Researchers were expecting a larger runup height, but the largest was only about 15 meters (50 feet), compared with the 2010 Chile earthquake with a runup higher than 20 meters. The estimation was much greater than the actual waves. Were the warnings exaggerated? Maybe, but we can’t predict how large a tsunami will be, regardless of the magnitude of the displacement. But we can say that the casualties were low, thanks to the warning system in place.
Since 1946, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued warnings for tsunamis to areas all around the pacific ocean. However, evacuations are just one part of staying safe from earthquakes and tsunamis. “…As someone from Azerbaijan, I have a lot of experience with earthquakes,” says senior Om Singh, “Stay away from hills and roofs.” During an earthquake, the earth can break and destabilize slopes. This can lead to landslides. They can also shatter house roofs. If an earthquake occurs, immediately find something to get under, such as a sturdy table or a desk. Of course, it’s always best to try to get out of a building when an earthquake happens. Once you are out of the building, stay away from anything that could trap or fall on you. If a tsunami warning is issued, evacuate immediately, as people did after the earthquake in Kamchatka on the coast. After learning about Russia, senior Ben Johnston says. “If the casualties were pretty low…they must have gotten out of there.”
Fear was very likely present in the Kamchatka villages along the coast. But the knowledge and preparedness of citizens and the authorities helped keep the casualties low. The aftermath of past tsunamis really displayed how damaging these disasters are. But by individuals recognizing the danger, taking the necessary precautions, and governments prioritizing disaster mitigation, earthquakes and tsunamis will hopefully be much less devastating.. So, whether you travel to a tsunami risk area or not, it is important to be aware of them, and what you can do to protect yourself and those around you. Stay safe!
Citations
Ocean Exploration. “What Features Form at Tectonic Plate Boundaries?” Noaa.gov, 2010, oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/tectonic-features.html.
“What Are the Different Types of Plate Tectonic Boundaries?” What Are the Different Types of Plate Tectonic Boundaries?: Exploration Facts: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research,” https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/plate-boundaries/
Stein, Theo. “How 30 Years of NOAA Research Led to One Very Accurate and Timely Tsunami Forecast – NOAA Research.” NOAA Research, 19 Aug. 2025, research.noaa.gov/how-30-years-of-noaa-research-led-to-one-very-accurate-and-timely-tsunami-forecast/.
Yeck, William. “USGS Releases Aftershock Forecast for M8.8 Russian Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake.” USGS, 5 June 2025, www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/usgs-releases-aftershock-forecast-m88-russian-kamchatka-peninsula-earthquake.
News, PBS. “Tsunami Waves Reach Japan, Hawaii and California after 8.8 Magnitude Quake Hits Russia’s Far East without Major Damage.” PBS News, 30 July 2025, www.pbs.org/newshour/world/tsunami-waves-reach-japan-hawaii-and-california-after-8-8-magnitude-quake-hits-russias-far-east-without-major-damage.
