Tsunami Hits Russia

Tsunami Hits Russia

Why in News Tsunami Hits Russia? 

Recently, a powerful earthquake hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. It caused a massive tsunami along the Pacific coast. Warnings were sent to Japan, Hawaii, and other coastal areas. The situation raised global concern over safety and response.

Tsunami Strikes Russia and Pacific Nations After Massive Earthquake in July 2025

• Origin: A massive underwater earthquake hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025, triggering a tsunami. The quake occurred at a depth of around 19 kilometers beneath the ocean floor. It was centered about 125 kilometers east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a key coastal city.

• Intensity: The quake reached 8.8 magnitude, placing it among the world’s ten strongest earthquakes ever. The U.S. The Geological Survey confirmed it as the sixth-largest earthquake in historical data. The tsunami waves rose up to 4 meters (13 feet) in height in several areas, particularly along the eastern Russian coast.

• Affected Areas: The tsunami had widespread impact across several countries in the Pacific region:

• • Russia: Eastern coastal towns such as Severo-Kurilsk and Kamchatka faced direct hits. Buildings, roads, and port areas suffered significant water damage.
  • Japan: Local Authorities advised more than 900,000 residents to evacuate from vulnerable areas. Tsunami waves advanced toward the northeastern coasts, including near Fukushima.
  • United States: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. West Coast. The state of Oregon expected waves between 1 to 2 feet high. 
  • Philippines: Coastal provinces along the eastern shoreline were alerted. Waves of up to 1 meter were expected. Evacuation orders were placed in towns facing the Pacific, and public warnings instructed people to stay away from coastal waters until further notice.
  • China: The Chinese Tsunami Alert Center forecasted waves between 30 centimeters and 1 meter along parts of the eastern coast. 
  • Ecuador: The country’s coastal authority announced precautionary evacuations in Galápagos Islands. Low-lying beach zones and docks were temporarily closed to avoid human and environmental harm.

What is a Tsunami?

• About: Tsunamis are huge sea waves that form when the ocean floor moves suddenly. These waves carry strong force and travel far at very high speeds. Tsunamis originate due to geological events.

• • • The word “Tsunami” comes from two Japanese words: tsu and nami. This term gained international use after several disasters affected Japan, especially the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami, which caused widespread destruction. 
    • Tsunamis can occur in any ocean but are most frequent in the Pacific Ocean, where tectonic plate movements are more active. 
  • Causes: Below are four major causes that explain how tsunamis begin:

• Undersea Earthquakes: Most tsunamis start when an earthquake strikes beneath the ocean floor. The earth’s crust is made of large plates that shift from time to time. When one plate suddenly slides beneath another, it causes the sea floor to move up or down. This sudden shift pushes a large amount of water, which forms waves that move quickly across the ocean. 

• Volcanic Eruptions: Volcanoes can also cause tsunamis when they erupt near or under the sea. Sometimes a volcanic explosion causes a part of the mountain to collapse into the ocean. This collapse can push water with great force and send waves in all directions.

• • • Landslides: Landslides can also start tsunamis when a large amount of rock or earth suddenly falls into the sea. This sudden fall moves water quickly and creates large waves. The landslide might be caused by an earthquake or heavy rainfall that weakens a mountain slope.

• Asteroid Impact: A large space object hitting the ocean can also create a tsunami. The impact forces water outward with massive energy. Although this kind of tsunami has not happened in recent human history, scientists believe one occurred 66 million years ago. 

• Types: Tsunamis can be classified based on their causes and the location of their origin:

• • Tectonic Tsunamis: Tectonic tsunamis are the most common type. They occur when tectonic plates beneath the ocean suddenly shift. When tectonic plates shift upward or downward, they push seawater and start giant waves. Most tsunamis — about 80% — happen because of undersea tectonic movements.
  • Volcanic Tsunamis: Volcanic tsunamis form when underwater or coastal volcanoes erupt suddenly. The explosion or collapse of a volcanic structure can displace water and send massive waves toward the coast. Volcanoes can also produce tsunamis, though they occur less frequently.
  • Landslide-Generated Tsunamis: These tsunamis occur when a large amount of rock or soil slides into the ocean, displacing water and causing waves. Earthquakes, eruptions, or rainfall may cause landslides that lead to wave formation.
  • Meteorological Tsunamis (Meteotsunamis): These tsunamis are not caused by geological activity but by weather conditions such as storms or pressure changes. Even fast changes in air pressure can produce waves similar to tsunamis. Meteotsunamis are usually smaller than tectonic tsunamis but still pose risk.

Also Read: Myanmar Earthquake 2025

Major Characteristics of Tsunami Waves

• High Speed: Tsunami waves move extremely fast in deep water. Their speed can reach up to 800 kilometers per hour, which is similar to the speed of a jet aircraft. Even though they move fast, their height remains low in the open sea. 

• Long Wavelengths: One major feature of tsunami waves is their long wavelength. In tsunamis, this distance can be over 100 kilometers. Because of this long wavelength, the energy spreads across a wide area.

• Low Height: Tsunami waves are often less than 1 meter high in the deep ocean. But as they approach shallow waters, their speed slows down and their height increases. This process is called wave shoaling. The same wave that seemed harmless in deep water can grow to a height of 10 meters or more near the shore. 

• Multiple Waves: They usually arrive in a series, with each wave separated by 5 to 90 minutes. The first wave is not always the strongest. Sometimes a smaller wave hits first, followed by larger and more destructive ones. This pattern makes it hard to predict when the danger is over. 

Impact of Tsunamis

• Coastal Communities: Tsunamis hit coastal towns and villages first. Their waves destroy homes, roads, schools, and hospitals within minutes. People lose their families, belongings, and places of safety. In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami caused massive loss of life. Countries like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand saw entire villages wiped out. Over 230,000 people died, and millions were left homeless. 

• Economy: Tsunamis damage not only property but also major parts of the economy. Fishing, farming, tourism, and local industries face sudden collapse. The 2011 Japan tsunami severely affected the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing a radiation crisis. Japan’s economy suffered losses of over $235 billion, one of the costliest natural disasters in history.

• Marine Life: The force of the wave churns the ocean and changes its natural flow. Sea creatures, coral reefs, and fish habitats get damaged or destroyed. During the 2004 tsunami, deep-sea waves shifted ocean sediments. Fish populations dropped sharply in affected areas. These changes affect fishing and food chains in the long term.

• Ecosystem: Tsunamis change landscapes. Saltwater floods forests, farmland, and freshwater lakes. Crops die because they cannot grow in salty soil. Rivers overflow, and wetlands dry up or get filled with debris. In the 2004 tsunami, thousands of acres of farmland in India and Sri Lanka were destroyed. Mangrove forests, which protect the coast, were uprooted. 

Also Read: Cyclone Alfred

How Tsunamis are Monitored Worldwide?

• Many countries share data to watch ocean movements. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii plays a major role in this effort. Hawaii faced a deadly tsunami in 1946, leading to the setup of a warning center in 1949. The PTWC covers the Pacific Ocean and gives alerts to dozens of countries when underwater earthquakes occur.

• UNESCO’s Oceanographic Commission leads global efforts for tsunami warning and cooperation. These programs include the Pacific Tsunami Warning System, Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System, and Caribbean Early Warning Network. 

• The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also supports tsunami detection. It tracks seismic activity worldwide.
• INCOIS in Hyderabad handles India’s tsunami alert system and was founded in 1999. India’s main warning center, ITEWC, began in 2007 to track ocean threats. This center receives real-time data from 17 seismic stations and 7 DART buoys around the Indian Ocean.
• The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) also contributes by managing underwater sensors. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) shares weather and earthquake updates that help in confirming tsunami risks.
• Tsunami monitoring relies on different types of equipment. Scientists place DART buoys deep in the sea to sense water pressure changes. These buoys detect pressure changes under the water.

Also Read: Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024