Key Facts
• July 30, 2025, 8:25 AM: M8.7 earthquake struck near Kamchatka Peninsula.
• Tsunami observed across Japan’s Pacific coast, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
• Over 200 million people in 21 prefectures received evacuation orders.
• Mie Prefecture: 58-year-old woman died in a car accident during evacuation.
• Nemuro, Hokkaido: 80 cm tsunami; Kuji City: 1.3 meters, similar to 1952.
• 12 people hospitalized nationwide, including heatstroke cases during evacuation.
• Kesennuma, Miyagi: Oyster farming rafts damaged by tsunami.
• Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant halted treated water release as a precaution.
• Kamchatka earthquake mechanism: Pacific Plate subducting under North American Plate.
• Expert: Similar large-scale earthquakes possible in eastern Hokkaido.
• 1952 Kamchatka earthquake had a 9-hour delay before Japan’s largest tsunami.
• Government urges reliance on official sources to avoid misinformation.
• Kyoto University expert: Shorter intervals between massive quakes are a critical lesson.
Summary
A powerful M8.7 earthquake struck near the Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025, triggering tsunamis along Japan’s Pacific coast. Over 200 million people in 21 prefectures were ordered to evacuate, with casualties including a fatal car accident in Mie Prefecture and heatstroke cases. Tsunami heights reached 80 cm in Nemuro and 1.3 meters in Kuji City, echoing the 1952 earthquake. Oyster farming in Kesennuma suffered damage, while nuclear plants implemented safety measures. Experts highlighted the earthquake’s mechanism, involving the Pacific Plate subducting under the North American Plate, and warned of potential future quakes in eastern Hokkaido. The event underscores the importance of disaster preparedness and reliance on verified information.
