Tsunami Warning Live: 5 ft tsunami waves hit US coast – dramatic scenes explode after Russia quake triggers panic

The tsunami waves that reached the coast of Hawaii have been recorded to be as high as four feet. This 4 ft wave hit Haleiwa on the north shore of Oahu Island, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Experts have said that more waves are expected, so the water may rise and fall again over time.

Tsunamis are very large sea waves that often happen when the ocean floor moves up or down quickly. This usually happens during an underwater earthquake, especially in places where one layer of the Earth’s surface slides under another (called a subduction zone). When the pressure from this movement is suddenly released, it pushes the ocean floor up or down. This sudden shift moves a huge amount of water, which creates powerful waves.

Read more here: Explained | From sea floor to shore, how is a Tsunami born?

According to the videos and posts that are surfacing on social media, people are saying that they are trying to escape from Maui using Oprah’s private road, but the celebrity has reportedly shut it off. Watch here:

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People in Hawaii are reportedly trying to use Oprah’s private road to escape the tsunami but she/police have it closed off.

If true, this is a massive scandal for the billionaire that will ruin her reputation further forever.pic.twitter.com/AAlGS9ySGJ

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 30, 2025

The US National Weather Service has said that tsunami waves have started to hit Hawaii, and people should act fast to stay safe and protect their property. Since tsunami waves can move around the islands easily, every part of the coast is at risk, no matter which direction it faces. These waves can also bring strong, unpredictable currents near the shore. On top of that, floating debris carried by the waves can cause even more damage. If a tsunami hits during high tide or when the surf is already strong, the threat becomes much worse.

Power has been cut off in Russia’s Sakhalin region after the earthquake damaged part of the electricity grid, according to local officials, reported BBC. Earlier, a state of emergency was declared in the northern Kuril Islands, which are part of Sakhalin. Videos from the area show tsunami waves flooding a port town. Authorities said all residents in the affected area were safely evacuated.

Tsunami sirens have been going off in Tonga, and alerts have been issued across the island nation, according to the local media. Tonga’s weather service has said that areas along the northern coasts of Niua and Vava’u could face tsunami waves between 10 and 11 p.m. tonight (which is 09:00–10:00 GMT). Other coastal regions may also be at risk. Boats have already been arranged at the sea and have been advised to head to deeper waters for safety.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green has informed that a wave was recorded at 6 ft which was passing via the Midway Atoll island that falls between Japan and Hawaii. He says that it was measured from the trough to peak of the wave. He added that more “significant waves” are expected.

Running water has been shut off in many parts of Hawaiian island Maui, a CNN report said. The County of Maui Department of Water Supply has said that they will shut off valves along the coastal areas “out of an abundance of caution”, reported CNN. The department has also advised people to store the water as they can expect low or no pressure until the valves are opened. The report further added that the County of Maui also shut off many wastewater pump stations and facilities in Central Maui, Lahaina, and Kihei and to prevent the damage from the tsunami waves.

After waves of 40 cm hit Japan’s northern coast, a BBC report says that the tsunami waves are now expected to arrive at Hawaii’s shores shortly.

As per a CNN report, police helicopters are flying over the coast in Los Angeles and are using loudspeakers to alert people on boats and beaches that a tsunami advisory is in place. They are asking everyone to move to higher ground before 1 am local time (4 am ET).

Tsunami warnings or advisories have been issued for these countries: Russia, Japan, Taiwan, The Philippines, China, Hawaii, Guam, Tonga, California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador. We will keep updating the list as and when more advisories and alerts are issued.

The danger in Japan is far from over. The Japan Meteorological Agency has just said that strong tsunami waves could continue for more than a day after the earthquake near Russia. They warned that tsunami waves are still being watched closely and they could cause damage. People have been asked to stay in safe places and not return home until the warning is officially lifted. The agency also said that if the tsunami hits during high tide, the water level could rise even more than what we’re seeing now.

The BBC has reported that residents of Maui are planning to move to the mountains after seeing the water level rise siginificantly at the beaches. A local resident compared the situation to the tome when a massive fire had hit Lahaina two years ago, causing devastating damage to the island and her family. She also acknowledged that even after so many warnings if the residents don’t evacuate then it’s their own fault.

Rick Blangiardi, mayor of Hawaii’s capital Honolulu, while speaking to CNN urged the people to move to a higher ground. He also said that the residents need to stay calm and act accordingly. “If you can get to higher ground if you’re in a low-lying area, please do that,” Blangiardi said.

He further added that sirens were blaring across the city to alert the people and seek caution on the roads amid traffic due to evacuations.

The repeated tsunami warnings have disrupted the travel plans of many people. It is getting messier on the US West Coast and in Hawaii. As per FlightRadar24, flights heading to Honolulu are facing delays, cancellations, and rerouting. Also, flights that had already taken off from places like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Vancouver were forced to turn around and head back on Tuesday night, reported CNN. Both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines have paused their departures to Hawaii and are redirecting some flights that were already in the air. They’re asking travelers to double-check their flight status before going to the airport. The airlines said they’re working closely with government agencies and that there could be more changes.

The National Weather Service in the San Francisco Bay Area has said that going near the coast to take pictures of the incoming tsunami could be dangerous, a report by Al Jazeera said. The move comes with a caution that it could put not only individuals at risk but also emergency workers. They warned that the tsunami won’t just be one wave, so people should stay away from the shoreline. The Bay Area is currently under a tsunami advisory, while areas farther north are under a more serious warning.

As per AFP, Russian authorities have declared a State of Emergency on tsunami-hit islands.

Over 1.9 million people in Japan have been asked to move to safer areas after tsunami waves reached several coastal regions, a CNN report said. As of now, the waves are smaller than what was initially expected. Transportation across the country has been hit for obvious reasons. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency has also given evacuation orders in 21 regions, with the highest number of people asked to leave in Hokkaido, Kanagawa, and Wakayama.

Hawaii’s governor has said that tsunami waves as high as 10 feet could reach parts of the northern Islands. He urged people living along the coast to evacuate those areas right away. He explained that the waves won’t just hit one beach and that they could circle around.

The following picture shows an empty beach in Shirahama, Wakayama prefecture, western Japan on Wednesday. It was taken after people were evacuated from the beach following the powerful earthquake in Russia’s Far East. (Image: AP)

This picture below captures a pair of kite surfers near two beach walkers at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Tuesday. (Image: AP)

Accoridng to Russia’s TASS news agency, 3 tsunami waves have struck the Russian port town of Severo-Kurilsk. The last wave was strong enough to damage port facilities and drag several docked ships out into the sea. The agency described the third wave as “powerful”. Earlier, it was reported that parts of the town were flooded. Residents have moved to higher ground and will stay there until the danger has passed.

Tsunami waves are also expected to hit parts of China. The country’s tsunami warning centre has said that waves between 30 cm and 1 metre are expected to hit parts of the eastern seaboard. The advisory centre said that based on the latest analysis results, the tsunami was indeed triggered by the earthquake and is expected to damage China’s coastal areas.

According to AFP, China, Peru and Ecuador have also issued tsunami warnings following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

Hawaii is under a tsunami warning, while Alaska and parts of the US Pacific coast have tsunami advisories. But what’s the difference between the two? Here’s what it means:

A tsunami warning is more serious. It means there could be dangerous flooding and strong waves along the coast. People are told to leave the area, stay away from the shore, and move to higher ground or inland.

A tsunami advisory on the other hand, is less severe but still important. It means there may be strong waves or currents that can be dangerous for anyone in or near the water. People are advised to avoid beaches and stay out of the sea.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has updated the strength of the earthquake that hit off Russia’s far east coast. The magnitude of the earthquake is now being recorded as 8.8. Initially, the quake was measured at 8.0, then was changed to 8.7, and has now been finally updated to 8.8. Several aftershocks have followed, some as strong as magnitude 6.9. In the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the quake damaged buildings, made cars shake in the streets, and caused power cuts and phone signal problems. Some people in Kamchatka needed medical attention after the quake, but no major injuries have been reported.

The US Coast Guard official in charge of Honolulu has instructed all commercial ships to leave Hawaii’s ports. The Coast Guard also announced on social media that all harbors are now closed to incoming ships, as tsunami waves are expected to arrive soon.

Seismologist Sakai Shinichi from the University of Tokyo told Al Jazeera that the recent earthquake and tsunami are similar to a major event that happened in 1952. That earlier earthquake, known as the 1952 Severo-Kurilsk quake, also hit near the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s far east and had caused serious damage and triggered a tsunami. Sakai said that it’s still too early to know how badly Kamchatka has been affected today. He noted that tsunami waves between 20 and 50 centimeters have already been seen in Japan, but those numbers might rise as more data comes in.

He also pointed out that big earthquakes have hit the area near the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands before, and tsunamis from those quakes have reached Japan, causing major destruction, just like the one in 1952.

The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has said that coastal areas along the Pacific side of the country may see tsunami waves less than 1 metre high, which is about 3.2 feet high.

The first waves are expected to reach the coast between 1:20 pm and 2:40 pm local time on Wednesday (which is 6:20 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. GMT on Thursday).

Here are the areas under tsunami advisory:

– Batanes Islands
– Albay
– Dinagat Islands
– Cagayan
– Sorsogon
– Surigao del Norte
– Isabela
– Catanduanes
– Surigao del Sur
– Aurora
– Northern Samar
– Davao del Norte
– Quezon
– Eastern Samar
– Davao Oriental
– Camarines Norte
– Leyte
– Davao Occidental
– Camarines Sur
– Southern Leyte
– Davao del Sur
– Davao de Oro

Japan has said that waves up to 50 cm (about 20 inches) were seen at Ishinomaki Port, a major city on the east coast in Miyagi Prefecture. In other areas, the first tsunami waves were between 20 cm and 40 cm (about 8 to 16 inches). However, Japanese officials have warned that later waves could be bigger. NHK World earlier explained that tsunami waves are much stronger than normal waves. Even a 50 cm wave can push with a force as strong as 200 kg (440 pounds).

The screenshot below shows a tsunami alert on a mobile photo in Honolulu. (Image: AP Photo)