RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT OF HAWAII GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY—


SHOTLIST

HAWAII, US (JULY 30, 2025) (SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT OF HAWAII GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN - RESTRICTED)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HAWAII GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN SAYING:

"Aloha everyone. As you have heard by now, we have a serious situation and tsunami warning. We had a large earthquake off of Kamchatka which is in eastern Russia earlier today after 1 p.m. it has caused a wave. We believe that will be significant. We'll know in a few moments around 5:40 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time as it comes through midway, how large the wave is and what the impacts are going to be. People need to evacuate. That's very clear. They have to be out of the evacuation zone or up for stories. Please take this very seriously, very seriously. We're prepared. All of the county mayors are fully involved with emergency management activated, but we will be having sirens at you heard at 5:10 and at 6:10 and at 6:40 p.m.. But please be careful. Absolutely be careful. Do not risk being out at all near the shoreline when this wave becomes law."

HAWAII, US - JULY 30- RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT OF HAWAII GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, July 30, after a tsunami warning was issued following a powerful undersea earthquake in the Pacific Ocean.

The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) ordered evacuations earlier in the day for residents in tsunami evacuation zones.

“If you are in a coastal area, move inland and to higher ground immediately. Do not wait,” Governor Green said during a televised briefing, urging the public to take the threat seriously.

The National Weather Service warned that tsunami waves could arrive in Hawaii as early as 7:10 p.m. local time.

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The epicenter was located at a depth of 20.7 kilometers (12.8 miles) and was centered 119 kilometers (73.9 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, it said.

The earthquake was shallow and powerful enough to trigger waves or a tsunami.

Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said on Telegram that the earthquake "was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors."

Several people in Kamchatka were injured after the earthquake, regional health minister Oleg Melnikov told Russia’s state news agency Tass.

“All patients are in satisfactory condition. No serious injuries have been recorded at the moment," Melnikov was quoted as saying.

An evacuation order was declared for the small town of Severo-Kurilsk in the Sakhalin region following a tsunami warning.

The US Tsunami Warning System issued a warning of tsunami waves along some coasts of Russia, Japan, Alaska and Hawaii.

US President Donald Trump said a tsunami warning is in effect for those living in the state of Hawaii due to "a massive earthquake" that occurred in the Pacific Ocean.

"A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way," he said on his Truth Social platform.

The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management called for the evacuation of some coastal areas in Hawaii.

"Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected," it said on X.

The National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area said a tsunami advisory was in effect for the California coast.

"Stay away from the water! Stay away from beaches and waterways! Remain away from shore until local officials say that it is OK to return," it said on X.

- Japan, Indonesia issue tsunami warnings

Japan and Indonesia also issued tsunami warnings after the powerful earthquake, prompting urgent calls for coastal evacuations.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that tsunami waves up to three meters could strike areas from Hokkaido to Wakayama and the Ogasawara Islands, according to Kyodo News Agency.

A 30-centimeter wave was already observed in Nemuro, eastern Hokkaido, at 10.30 am (0130GMT)

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called for immediate evacuation to higher ground while railway service was also suspended in some areas.

Indonesian authorities also issued a tsunami alert and advised residents near the coast to seek higher ground.

The Indonesia Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said the earthquake had the potential to trigger a tsunami in several regions of Indonesia with an alert status or wave heights of less than 0.5 meters, according to the state-run Antara News Agency.