Hawaii's tsunami warning downgraded after powerful earthquake hits Russia

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Far East region of Russia, sending tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean, affecting areas such as Hawaii and Japan. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami warning for Hawaii, predicting the arrival of the first waves at 7:17 p.m. local time. However, as the situation developed, the warning was later downgraded to an advisory late Tuesday. Reports indicated that small tsunami waves, estimated between one to two feet tall, were expected along the coast of Hawaii hours after the first waves arrived, alongside areas in the West Coast of the United States like California and Washington. Authorities throughout coastal regions, including the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, advised individuals to stay away from beaches and marinas as a precaution against strong currents. Meanwhile, some flights to Hawaii were rerouted back to California, although airports within Hawaii began to reopen as the situation stabilized. The earthquake, one of the strongest recorded since the 9.0 magnitude quake in Japan in 2011, raised concerns about its destructive potential, igniting fears of flooding along the shoreline. Moreover, Philippine authorities also warned citizens to avoid beaches, signaling that the impact of the earthquake and resultant tsunami could be felt internationally. The incident underscored the broader risks posed by seismic activities in the Pacific region, particularly given the historical context of previous quakes leading to significant tsunamis. Local geophysicists noted that this earthquake was the strongest to hit the Kamchatka Peninsula since 1952, reigniting discussions about preparedness and potential aftershocks that could last for weeks following such seismic events.