List of Countries Under Tsunami Threat after Massive Earthquake in Russia
Massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggers tsunami warnings and advisories across the Pacific. Learn which countries are under threat, including Japan, US, Canada, Peru, Mexico, New Zealand, China, Philippines, Taiwan, and Indonesia, and their history with tsunamis. Stay safe and informed with the latest updates.
Russia The direct impact of the earthquake was felt most acutely on the 'Kamchatka Peninsula' and the 'Kuril Islands', where tsunami waves reportedly reached up to 4 meters (13 feet). This prompted immediate evacuations and caused preliminary damage. Russia has a history of experiencing tsunamis due to its active seismic zones. One of the most significant recent events was on November 15, 2006, when an 8.3 magnitude earthquake in the South Kuril Islands generated waves up to 21.9 meters. Another notable event occurred on December 5, 1997, when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Kamchatka caused an 8-meter tsunami. (Kuril Islands)
2/12
Japan As a nation highly vulnerable to tsunamis, Japan immediately issued a tsunami advisory, observing initial waves of 30 centimeters in Hokkaido. The Japanese weather agency warned that subsequent waves could be considerably larger, potentially reaching up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) along northern and eastern coasts, extending south to Wakayama. Coastal evacuations were swiftly initiated. Japan's most devastating recent tsunami was the March 11, 2011, Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which claimed thousands of lives and caused widespread destruction. Prior to that, the 1993 Hokkaido-Nansei-Oki earthquake generated a major tsunami with run-ups of 15 to 30 meters on Okushiri Island. (Tohoku Earthquake 2011)
3/12
United States Hawaii: A Tsunami Warning was issued for Hawaii, with sirens blaring across Honolulu and residents were urged to move to higher ground. Significant and damaging waves were anticipated across all Hawaiian coastlines. Hawaii was severely impacted by the 2011 Tohoku tsunami, which caused significant damage to harbors and coastal infrastructure, and also experienced effects from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Alaska: A Tsunami Watch was put in effect. Alaska's coastline is highly susceptible to tsunamis, with the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake generating a massive tsunami that caused extensive damage and fatalities along the Gulf of Alaska and even as far as California. Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington): A tsunami advisory was in effect for portions of the US West Coast, with expected wave heights of 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) in Oregon, and potential for strong currents and dangerous waves. Evacuation orders were issued for some harbor areas in California. The US West Coast has experienced effects from distant tsunamis, including the 2011 Tohoku tsunami and the 1964 Alaska tsunami. (1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake)
4/12
Canada British Columbia, particularly parts of Vancouver Island, was placed under a tsunami advisory, with expectations of smaller waves. Canada's most destructive historical tsunamis have been in Atlantic Canada, such as the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake-triggered tsunami, which claimed 28 lives in Newfoundland. On the Pacific coast, the 1964 Alaska earthquake generated a significant tsunami that caused extensive damage on Vancouver Island, particularly in Port Alberni. (1929 Grand Banks Earthquake)
Ecuador While specific details for Ecuador were not immediately available in the context of this specific event, as a Pacific Rim nation, it is included in broad tsunami alerts. Ecuador has a history of powerful earthquakes generating tsunamis. A major earthquake off the coast of Ecuador on January 31, 1906, with a magnitude of 8.8, caused a devastating tsunami that reportedly killed between 500 and 1,500 people in Ecuador and Colombia, with its effects felt as far as San Francisco and Japan. A more recent, though less impactful, tsunami of 1.1 meters was recorded following the 2016 Ecuador earthquake. Ecuador Earthquake 1906)
6/12
Peru Peru issued a tsunami alert following the Russian earthquake, with waves not expected to exceed three meters. Peru is highly vulnerable to tsunamis. A deadly tsunami hit the southern coast of Peru on June 23, 2001, triggered by an 8.4 magnitude earthquake, causing over 20 deaths and destroying thousands of homes, particularly in the Camaná region. (Peru Earthquake 2001)
7/12
Mexico Mexico mobilized authorities to keep its population away from Pacific beaches, and the Mexican Navy warned of strong currents at port entrances from Baja California to Chiapas. Mexico has a history of tsunamis, often linked to its active seismic zones. The September 7, 2017, Chiapas earthquake (8.2 Mw) generated a tsunami. A historical and devastating event was the June 3, 1932, Jalisco earthquake (8.1 Mw) which produced a major tsunami. (Chiapas Earthquake 2017)
8/12
New Zealand New Zealand's disaster management agency issued a national advisory, warning of "strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore." New Zealand is no stranger to tsunamis, often affected by distant events. Major historical tsunamis reaching New Zealand with heights of 5 to 10 meters occurred in 1868, 1877, and 1960, all resulting from large earthquakes off the western coast of South America. (New Zealand Earthquake 2011)
China China's tsunami warning center expected waves of between 30 centimeters and one meter to hit parts of its eastern seaboard. While less frequently impacted by large tsunamis compared to other Pacific nations, China has experienced them historically. The last recorded significant tsunami in China was on June 24, 1988, when a 1.0-meter wave was generated by an earthquake in the Philippines. China Tsunami 1988)
10/12
Philippines While not specifically detailed in immediate reports regarding the current event, countries within the Pacific Rim, especially those bordering the western Pacific, are always under observation during such large seismic events. The Philippines is highly susceptible to tsunamis due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The 1976 Moro Gulf tsunami was one of the most devastating, with a run-up of 9 meters and causing between 4,000 and 8,000 deaths. The latest severe event was the 1994 Mindoro tsunami. (Moro Gulf Tsunami 1976)
11/12
Taiwan Similar to the Philippines, Taiwan is situated in a seismically active region and is part of the broader tsunami warning system. Historical records indicate tsunamis affecting Taiwan, such as the 1867 Keelung earthquake which caused a 1.7-meter tsunami. There are also historical accounts of events like the 1781 Jiateng Harbor Flooding and the 1782 Tsunami, though their precise nature and source remain debated. (Keelung Earthquake 1867)
12/12
Indonesia A warning was issued for some parts of Indonesia, with tsunami waves of less than 0.5 meters expected to hit coastal cities and towns in the Papua region, North Maluku province, and Gorontalo province. Indonesia is one of the countries most severely affected by tsunamis. The December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, causing immense destruction and claiming over 200,000 lives across multiple countries, including a devastating impact on Aceh province in Indonesia. (Indian Ocean Earthquake 2004)
Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com.
