A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7 off Russia’s Far East has triggered tsunami warnings across various parts of the Pacific region, including Japan, Hawaii, Russia, and Ecuador, as well as alerts along the entire western coastline of California, U.S. authorities reported.

The strong quake prompted warnings for waves up to three meters high that could strike the coasts of Russia, Hawaii, and remote areas along South America's western coast, such as Ecuador and Chile, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The United States issued a series of alerts at varying levels of urgency along the entire western coastline of North America — from Alaska down to the full length of California’s coast.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency also raised its tsunami warning level after the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) updated the initial magnitude from 8.0 to 8.7, warning of possible waves up to three meters generated by the quake near the Kamchatka Peninsula.

"A tsunami warning was issued at 08:37 local time (23:37 GMT) on July 30," the agency posted on X (formerly Twitter), cautioning that "tsunami waves will hit repeatedly. Do not enter the sea or approach the coast until the warning is lifted."

Japan's public broadcaster reported that waves up to one meter were expected between 10:00 and 11:30 local time (01:00–02:30 GMT) and urged residents to move away from coastal and river areas.

Warnings were also issued for the U.S. island territory of Guam, and local reporters in California said emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones.

“Tsunami waves exceeding three meters above the tide level are possible along some coasts of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Russia,” stated the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, emphasizing that the conditions could be “hazardous.”

The region was shaken by at least six aftershocks, including one measuring 6.9 and another at 6.3 in magnitude.

The epicenter of the quake is approximately the same as that of the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake in 1952, which triggered a destructive tsunami across the entire Pacific basin, noted the U.S. Geological Survey. | BGNES