2:50PM
Tsunami Warning Issued for Hawai‘i Following Massive 8.7 Earthquake
HILO, Hawai‘i – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami Warning for the entire state of Hawai‘i, effective at 2:43 p.m. HST Tuesday, following a massive earthquake off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
The earthquake, which struck at 1:25 p.m. HST, registered a magnitude of 8.7 and was centered at 52.2° North and 160.0° East. Officials confirm that a tsunami has been generated and could cause widespread damage along the coastlines of all Hawaiian Islands.
Residents are urged to take immediate action to protect life and property. Tsunamis are a series of long ocean waves, and each wave crest can last 5 to 15 minutes or longer, causing extensive flooding in coastal areas. The danger can persist for many hours after the initial wave, as additional waves arrive.
Authorities warn that tsunami wave heights cannot be predicted and the first wave may not be the largest. Waves can wrap efficiently around islands, placing all shores at risk regardless of their orientation. The trough of an incoming tsunami wave may expose the seafloor temporarily, but the area will quickly flood again.
Nearshore currents will be extremely strong and unusual, and debris carried by the waves will significantly increase their destructive potential. High tides or surf occurring simultaneously with tsunami waves could further amplify the hazard.
The first tsunami waves are expected to arrive in Hawai‘i at approximately 7:17 p.m. HST Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Officials will continue to issue updates hourly, or sooner if conditions change, until the threat to Hawai‘i has passed. Residents are urged to monitor local media, NOAA Weather Radio, and official emergency channels for the latest information and evacuation instructions.
2:20pm UPDATE
HILO, Hawai‘i – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a Tsunami Watch remains in effect for the entire state of Hawai‘i this afternoon following a powerful earthquake off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
The earthquake, which struck at 1:25 p.m. HST Tuesday, has now been upgraded to a magnitude 8.7. The quake’s epicenter was located at 52.2° North and 160.0° East, off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.
Officials say that, based on all available data, the earthquake may have generated a tsunami capable of causing significant damage to coastal areas far from the epicenter. An investigation is still underway to determine if there is a direct tsunami threat to Hawai‘i.
If tsunami waves are generated and impact the islands, the earliest estimated arrival time remains 7:17 p.m. HST Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center emphasized that this is still a watch, not a warning, and urged residents to remain alert and monitor official information sources. Additional updates will be issued hourly, or sooner if conditions change, until the threat to Hawai‘i has passed.
Residents are urged to stay tuned to local media, NOAA Weather Radio, and official emergency channels for the latest information and instructions.
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