The Foreign Office has issued an urgent warning to holidaymakers heading to 15 major tourist hotspots following a huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia on Tuesday.
Data from the US Geological Survey shows the quake struck about 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatska, Russia at around 7.24pm EST – marking the sixth strongest earthquake ever.
It was also believed to be the strongest to strike on the entire planet in 14 years, when a 9.1 megaquake hit northeast Japan and left 19,747 people either dead or missing.
Residents of Hawaii were were forced to evacuate from coastal areas as the entire island chain braced for the impact to strike, with water seen receding at around 7.40pm local time, or 1.40am EST.
Now, the USA, geographically positioned to the east of Hawaii, and Japan – located to the west – are bracing for a tsunami.
Issuing travel advice to tourists visiting the U.S., the Foreign Office warned: ‘An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.7 has struck the eastern coast of Russia in the Kamchatka Peninsula region.
‘A tsunami threat message has been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. If you are in the affected areas potentially affected by the earthquake or tsunami you should follow the advice of the local authorities.’
For those planning on visiting Japan, officials added: ‘Following the magnitude 8.8 earthquake off of the eastern coast of Russia, the Japanese Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings of up to three meters along Japan’s Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Wakayama.
The Foreign Office has issued an urgent warning to holidaymakers heading to 15 major tourist hotspots following a huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia on Tuesday
Australia added to tsunami warning list, along with fifteen nations across the globe
Rescuers in Russia are pictured inspecting a kindergarten damaged by a massive earthquake on Tuesday
‘Please follow the advice of local authorities. For further information in English, please access the NHK website.’
A further warning has been issued to tourists heading to twelve other surrounding nations and regions, including; Chile, Costa Rice, Kiribati, French Polynesia, Peru, Samoa, Solomun Islands, Ecuador, New Zealand, Tonga, China and Russia.
In Japan, nearly two million residents have been given evacuation advisories in over 220 municipalities, according to the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The California and Oregon border is now also under a tsunami warning, while advisories remained in effect for the rest of the West Coast of the United States.
Officials in Guam also urged residents to get off the beaches and harbors, while officials in Ecuador issued its own evacuation orders.
The first tsunami waves hit Hawaii at 8.20pm local time, 2.20am EST. Water levels were above 4 feet in Haleiwa on Oahu’s north shore, reaching 5 feet just minutes later.
Oahu Emergency Management warned residents: ‘Tsunami waves are currently impacting Hawaii. Take action NOW!’ All flights in and out of Kahului Airport in Maui have been canceled with passengers forced to shelter in the terminal.
Meanwhile President Donald Trump urged Americans to ‘STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE.’
People Walk along a screen broadcasting televised information on an alert tsunami in Japan on July 30, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan
President Donald Trump urged Americans to ‘STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE’
Hawaii residents were urged to evacuate from coastal areas as the entire island chain braced for the impact to strike at 1 am EST or 7pm local time
Traffic builds on the Interstate H1 in both eastward and westward bound lanes after authorities warned residents of the possibility of destructive tsunami waves,
Several were injured in Russia and kindergarten in Petropavlovsk collapsed from the quake as tsunami waves could be seen reaching the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
‘Unfortunately, there are some people injured during the seismic event. Some were hurt while running outside, and one patient jumped out of a window. A woman was also injured inside the new airport terminal,’ Oleg Melnikov, regional health minister told Russia´s TASS state news agency.
‘All patients are currently in satisfactory condition, and no serious injuries have been reported so far.’
The earthquake on Tuesday came just over one week after several other tremors struck the area, including one that measured a 7.4 magnitude. The earthquake is the largest this year, and is the first magnitude 8.0 or higher since 2021.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .