Russia Quake, Tsunami Alerts Hit Pacific, Spur Evacuations

A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025, triggering tsunami waves that reached Japan, Russia's Kuril Islands, and prompted evacuation orders and alerts across the Pacific, including in the US, Hawaii, and New Zealand. The tsunami caused disruptions such as flooding at the port of Severokurilsk and emergency alerts at sites like the Fukushima nuclear plant. Millions evacuated as authorities responded, but no deaths were reported at the time of writing. The event revived attention to a 1999 prediction by Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, who foresaw a major disaster in July 2025, though her specific date of July 5 did not align precisely. Public anxiety was heightened, reflected in an 83% drop in flight bookings to Japan from Hong Kong. Seismologists and officials urged the public not to rely on clairvoyant warnings, emphasizing that tsunami dangers may continue with multiple waves.