Overview

• On July 29, an 8.7-magnitude earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula generated tsunami waves up to four metres high that inundated Severo-Kurilsk.
• Russia’s Emergencies Ministry evacuated around 2,000 people from low-lying areas before the surge struck.
• Early-warning systems triggered tsunami alerts from the Japan Meteorological Agency to US West Coast authorities.
• No major casualties have been reported, though local officials are assessing flood damage to roads, utilities and coastal defenses.
• The incident underscores how real-time sea-level gauges and deep-ocean sensors are extending warning lead times for coastal communities.