Tsunami Warning Lifted After Powerful Kamchatka Quake
Indonesia Assesses Minimal Impact, Pacific Nations Monitor Waves
An imminent tsunami threat to Indonesia has been officially declared over. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has rescinded its early warning following a substantial undersea earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.
Wave Activity Subsides
BMKG announced the termination of the tsunami alert early Thursday morning, July 31, 2025. All Indonesian tide gauge readings indicated a significant reduction in wave energy, confirming that the immediate danger had passed.
“We, BMKG, are terminating the Tsunami Early Warning caused by the Kamchatka Earthquake (Mag: 8.7, Date: 30-Jul-25, 06:24:50 WIB), because all marigrams in Indonesia show a pattern that is already tapering and diminishing,” BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Director, Daryono, said.
The magnitude 8.7 earthquake, originating at a depth of 18 kilometers along the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench, had initially triggered concerns for coastal areas in eastern Indonesia. BMKG had previously cautioned about potential waves under 0.5 meters in regions including the Talaud Islands, Manokwari, Biak, and Jayapura.
Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported in any Indonesian territories. Authorities have declared all initially affected zones to be safe.
Pacific-Wide Alert Status
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had also issued alerts spanning Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, and numerous Pacific island nations. Several territories, such as Guam, Palau, Tonga, and American Samoa, enacted precautionary evacuations due to anticipated wave heights ranging from 0.3 to 3 meters.
Many regions remain vigilant, with local authorities maintaining temporary coastal restrictions until wave patterns fully stabilize. As of the latest reports, tsunami waves generated by the event have generally been smaller than initially feared, consistent with patterns observed in past moderate-to-large undersea seismic events.
