Major airlines pause flights and divert planes after massive earthquake off Russia sparked tsunami threat for US
Scores of passengers heading to Hawaii have been left waiting in airport departure terminals as they brace for potential impact of tsunami waves set to hit the island.
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Scores of passengers seen waiting in departure lounges at Los Angeles airport
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American Airlines flights to Honolulu have been delayed
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Hawaii is bracing for waves as high as potentially 10 foot after the 8.8 magnitude quake struck off the coast of Russia.
The quake hit about 84 miles off the coast at around 7.24pm EST on Tuesday (12:30am BST) at a shallow depth of 19.3km (12 miles).
It is the 7th largest ever recorded and the largest since the 2011 shake which led to a tsunami that caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Pictures show scores of travelers waiting for updates in Los Angeles International Airport.
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And, Alaska and Hawaiian are among the carriers that have paused flights.
Some passenger planes en-route to Hawaii have been forced to divert.
Travelers are asking Alaska Airlines if flights to Hawaii will be canceled in light of the tsunami warning.
Meanwhile, bosses at Hawaiian have issued a travel waiver to all impacted passengers.
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Those who are traveling between July 29 and 30 can reschedule their flight and they will not be charged.
Alternatively, passengers can cancel their flights and will be given credit, which can be used toward a new plane ticket.
What causes tsunamis?
Here are the facts...
Tsunami is a Japanese word used to describe huge waves – generally on oceans, but sometimes in lakes or large rivers
Ocean tsunamis are caused by sudden motions, which displace a large amount of water
This is typically an earthquake, but it could also be a volcanic eruption or underwater landslide
A huge impact into water – like a large landslide or meteor – can also cause tsunamis
When an earthquake happens, huge tectonic plates crunch together
When the 'snap' eventually happens, this gives a large shove to water
This creates a tsunami that travels very quickly across the open oceans
As the ocean becomes shallower, the tsunami wave is forced upwards
This means tsunami waves typically grow very quickly in height (and slow down) as they approach the shallow shorelines near land
Tsunamis are typically a series of waves, rather than one single wave
As they approach land, these waves get closer together
One of the best ways to spot an incoming tsunami is a sudden retreat of coastal water
If the tide goes out very quickly, it's a telling sign that something is wrong
What you're actually seeing is the trough of the incoming tsunami wave – on a huge scale
The initial tsunami impact can be deadly
But tsunami flooding is also highly dangerous to life, damaging buildings, destroying infrastructure, spreading waste and disease, and drowning people
Travelers have been urged to check the status of their flights before they head to the airport.
Tsunami waves are hitting Hawaii and locals have been ordered to take urgent action.
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All commercial harbors on the island have been closed as a precaution.
Roads in Waikiki, Oahu are backed up with cars as residents try to head to higher ground.
Cars clogged up roads in Honolulu as drivers headed toward the mountains.
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Travelers stand by airport information boards at LAX
Credit: Splash
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Traffic was seen mounting in Honolulu
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Roads in Waikiki were backed up with cars as drivers sought higher ground
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One man in Honolulu was seen loading bottles of water into his car
Credit: Reuters
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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
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4 days ago
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One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded has struck Russia's far east, an 8.8-magnitude tremor that caused tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and the Pacific islands south toward New Zealand. Ports on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia near the quake's epicentre were flooded as residents fled inland, and white waves washed up to the shore in northern Japan. Cars jammed streets and major roads in Honolulu, with standstill traffic even in areas away from the shoreline. Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit for the… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2025 People were advised to move to higher ground around much of the Pacific and warned that the potential danger may last for more than a day. 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These centers are available to provide a safe place to ride out the impact. The first wave is expected to arrive at approximately 7:10pm HST.… — HawaiiRedCross (@HawaiiRedCross) July 30, 2025 About 2,700 people were evacuated to safe locations on the Kuril Islands. Buildings were damaged and cars swayed in the streets in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Russian news agencies quoting the regional Health Ministry saying several people sought medical help in Kamchatka after the earthquake, but no serious injuries were reported. The earthquake appears to be the strongest anywhere in the world since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake off north-eastern Japan in March 2011 that caused a massive tsunami that set off meltdowns at a nuclear power plant. Only a few stronger earthquakes have ever been measured around the world. The tsunami alert disrupted transportation in Japan, with ferries, trains and airports in the affected area suspending or delaying some operations. A tsunami of 2ft was recorded at Hamanaka town in Hokkaido and Kuji port in Iwate, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Several areas reported smaller waves including 8in in Tokyo Bay five hours after the quake. In Japan's northern coastal town of Matsushima, dozens of residents took refuge at an evacuation centre, where water bottles were distributed and an air conditioner was running. One person told NHK she came to the facility without hesitation based on the lesson from the 2011 tsunami. Japanese nuclear power stations have reported no abnormalities. The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant damaged by the 2011 tsunami said about 4,000 workers are taking shelter on higher ground at the plant complex while monitoring remotely to ensure plant safety.
