Hawaii hit by first tsunami waves after Kamchatka earthquake; people rush to emergency shelters, airports shut

Hours after tsunami warnings were triggered for several nations across the Pacific, as well as Hawaii and the US Pacific coasts, following an earthquake in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the first wave of the tsunami struck Hawaii on Wednesday (July 30, 2025). Earlier, a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s sparsely populated far eastern coast. This earthquake is the joint sixth strongest ever recorded.

After the tsunami warnings were issued, the US Coast Guard told all commercial vessels to leave Hawaiian ports and barred any incoming ships from entering them until the warnings were lifted, according to CNN.

Coast Guard Oceania District, in a statement, said that all harbors in Hawaii have been closed to incoming vessel traffic. “Vessels transiting within the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands or inbound to ports in Hawaii shall remain offshore until conditions subside,” the statement said.


Meanwhile, flights to Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, are being disrupted, with diversions, delays, and cancellations reported across affected airports, according to FlightRadar24.

Emergency shelters open in Hawaii

As tsunami warnings keep Hawaii on alert, emergency shelters began opening in the US. The development comes after residents were told to evacuate, and the governor warns that tsunami waves “will wrap around the islands,” CNN reported.

According to a list shared by CNN affiliate KGMB/KHNL, multiple shelters have been identified on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Maui, and in the county of Hawaii. Authorities in Hawaii have asked residents to move to higher ground. Officials have emphasized that precautions are being taken ahead of the approaching tsunami waves.

Honolulu mayor urges residents to ‘stay calm’ and seek higher ground

As the situation in Hawaii remains tense following multiple tsunami alerts, the mayor of Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, Rick Blangiardi, has urged residents to move to higher ground.

In an interview with CNN affiliate KITV, Blangiardi said, “We need people to stay calm but also to act accordingly. If you can get to higher ground if you’re in a low-lying area, please do that.”

He stated that warning sirens have been blaring to alert residents to evacuate. The mayor also requested people to exercise caution on the roads amid “bumper-to-bumper traffic” during evacuations. “Everything that we’re doing is precautionary,” he asserted.

“We don’t want to create undue panic; we want everyone to stay calm. We’re trying to act as much in advance as we possibly can to give people sufficient warning and opportunity to get to higher ground,” he said.

Travel disrupted, flight services hit in Hawaii

Multiple tsunami warnings across the Pacific have led to travel disruptions along the US West Coast and in Hawaii. Flights to Honolulu are being disrupted, with diversions, delays, and cancellations reported across affected airports, according to FlightRadar24, as reported by CNN.

Flights from various airlines that departed from Los Angeles, Vancouver, San Francisco, and San Diego that were bound for Hawaii were turned back to their destination airports late Tuesday, tracking data shows. Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines are holding departures to Hawaii, diverting some en route flights, and advising passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport.

Flights from several airlines that left Los Angeles, Vancouver, San Francisco, and San Diego for Hawaii were asked to turn back, according to tracking data. Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines are holding departures to Hawaii, diverting some flights already en route, and advising passengers to check flight statuses before going to the airport.

“We are holding flight departures to the Islands on Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. As a safety precaution, flights en route to Hawai‘i are returning to the mainland or diverting as needed,” both airlines were quoted by CNN as saying in a statement. “We are monitoring airport conditions with government agencies and could see operational impacts. A waiver is in place allowing guests to adjust their travel plans.”