The first tsunami waves have struck Alaska and Hawaii after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast occurred on the night of July 29. The Western US is now bracing for additional waves, with impacts expected in California and other coastal states in the coming hours, according to the US Tsunami Warning Center.
The powerful quake, one of the strongest ever recorded, triggered Pacific-wide tsunami alerts affecting multiple nations, including Japan, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Peru. In Japan alone, more than 1.9 million people have been ordered to evacuate, while authorities in California are urging residents to stay away from beaches and coastal areas.
Earthquakes like this can trigger tsunamis that travel across oceans, threatening distant coastal communities. They are also a reminder of the planet’s immense and unpredictable power. While some cause minimal damage, others leave behind widespread destruction and loss.
Click through the following gallery to discover some of the highest-magnitude earthquakes ever recorded.