In photos: Evacuations ordered in Japan, Hawaii and Russia after powerful quake triggers tsunami warning

By: cnbc Posted On: July 30, 2025 View: 79

Evacuations were ordered across the Pacific Ocean after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday.

Tsunami waves over 3 meters high were recorded in the Russian Pacific town of Severo-Kurilsk, with some waves reaching up to 5 meters, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday, citing emergency services. CNBC was unable to confirm the report.

Over in Hawaii, residents along the coast were told to move to the fourth floor or above in buildings with at least 10 stories. The Emergency Management Agency ordered all commercial habors to be closed and warned that "the arrival of tsunami waves can happen over a period of hours." Hawaii Governor Josh Green said all flights in and out of Maui were canceled.

Japan issued an evacuation alert after the major earthquake, while warning alerts of a tsunami were sounded in coastal towns across the country's Pacific coast. According to Japan's Kyodo news agency, automaker Nissan Motor suspended operations at some domestic factories.

Take a look at some of the photos below.

Traffic in Waikiki, Hawaii

Residents and visitors found themselves backed up in traffic as they tried to leave the the Ala Wai Harbor, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii on July 29, 2025, after an earthquake off Russia's Far East prompted tsunami alerts.

Eugene Tanner | Afp | Getty Images

Parking queues form in Japan

People queueing up to pay for their parking as they leave the beachside area at Inage Seaside Park after much of coastal Japan went on tsunami alert following a quake in the sea off eastern Russia, along Tokyo Bay in Chiba City, Chiba prefecture, on July 30, 2025.

Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images

Fleeing residents in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia

A screen grab from a video shows people being evacuated after magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit the Kamchatka Peninsula and a tsunami partially flooded the area, including the grounds of the Alaid fishing enterprise, on July 30, 2025, in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia.

Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations | Anadolu handout | Getty Images

Aerial view of a flooded town in Russia

An aerial view of the flooded city of Severo-Kurilsk after a tsunami triggered by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025.

Kamchatka Of Geophysical Survey of Russian Academy Of Sciences (KBGSRAS) | Anadolu handout | Getty Images

Boat leaves Waikiki, Hawaii

A boat leaves the Ala Wai Harbor, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii on July 29, 2025, after an 8.7 earthquake off of Russia's far east prompted tsunami alerts.

Eugene Tanner | Afp | Getty Images

Japanese police clear beach

Police officers ask a man to evacuate an empty beach after a tsunami warning in Fujisawa city, Kanagawa prefecture, on July 30, 2025.

Yuichi Yamazaki | Afp | Getty Images

Tokyo Bay beachgoers evacuate seaside park

People leave the beachside area at Inage Seaside Park after a tsunami alert on July 30, 2025.

Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images

Kamchatka governor leads emergency meeting

Russian Governor of Kamchatka Krai Vladimir Solodov holds an urgent meeting of the commission for the prevention and elimination of emergency situations following the earthquake.

Official page of the Governor of Kamchatka Krai Vladimir Anadolu | Anadolu handout | Getty Images

Japan Meteorological Agency holds briefing

Masashi Kiyomoto, an expert on earthquake and tsunami countermeasures from the Japan Meteorological Agency, holds a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2025.

Str | Afp | Getty Images