Great M8.8 Russian coast earthquake generates Pacific wide tsunami waves

On July 30, 2025, at 11:24:50 NZT, a magnitude 8.8 megathrust earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, about 119 km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a shallow depth of 20.7 km. This event, tied for the sixth-strongest earthquake ever recorded, occurred on the Kuril–Kamchatka subduction zone, causing moderate damage and injuries in Kamchatka Krai and Sakhalin Oblast. The quake triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami, with waves up to 4 meters in Severo-Kurilsk, Russia, and smaller waves impacting Japan, Hawaii, California, and other Pacific regions including New Zealand, prompting evacuations and tsunami alerts.

Tsunami wave energy and timing map from JTWC

Only very small waves up to 20cm arrived at Great Barrier Island around 14 hours after the mega-quake and continued to arrive during the morning.

Great Barrier Island sea level monitoring station

Auckland also had fluctuating small surges in the Waitemata harbour.

Auckland sea level monitoring station

Civil defence NZ had a nation wide tsunami advisory in place.

National Advisory: Tsunami activity forecast map

Video of the surging water behaviour at the southern end of the Hauraki Gulf on sunrise.