Powerful earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula triggers tsunami watch in California; check details

A tsunami watch was issued for the coastal regions in California after a massive earthquake of magnitude 8.8 struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday morning (June 30, 2025). According to NWS Bay Area, the estimated time of arrival is as early as 12:15 AM on July 30. Following the massive quake, tsunami warnings and evacuation orders were also issued for Japan, parts of Russia, Alaska, and the Pacific.

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The watch is in effect in all coastal regions in the Bay Area and Central Coast, including San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice. The tsunami is expected to arrive in Monterey around 12:15 AM and in San Francisco around 12:40 AM on July 30, 2025.




The quake, occurring at a shallow depth of approximately 19 km (12 miles), was centered about 85 miles (136 km) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000 residents.

The seismic event triggered a tsunami with waves reaching 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) in parts of Kamchatka, causing structural damage, including to a kindergarten, but no immediate reports of serious injuries. Meanwhile, Japan’s tsunami advisory has been issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) in response to the powerful earthquake.

This advisory covers Pacific coastal areas from northern Hokkaido down through Honshu to Kyushu, including the Boso Peninsula, Ogasawara Islands, and others. The JMA warns of repeated tsunami waves up to 3 meters along these coastlines and urges immediate evacuation from coastal and riverside areas with strict instructions not to approach the water to watch the waves.