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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- Toronto Sun
8.8-magnitude earthquake sends tsunami into coasts of Russia, Japan and Hawaii
Published Jul 30, 2025 • 6 minute read A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after Japan issued alerts following a strong earthquakes off the Kamchatka Peninsula. Photo by Eugene Hoshiko / AP TOKYO (AP) — One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, sending tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. No substantial damage has been reported so far, but authorities warned people away from shorelines and said the risk could last more than a day. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Ports on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia near the 8.8 magnitude quake's epicentre flooded as residents fled inland, and frothy, white waves washed up to the shore in northern Japan. Cars jammed streets and highways in Hawaii's capital, with standstill traffic even in areas away from the shoreline. People went to evacuation centers in affected areas of Japan, with memories fresh of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that caused reactor meltdowns at a nuclear power plant. No abnormalities in operations at Japan's nuclear plants were reported Wednesday. Russian authorities said several people were injured, without giving a figure. In Japan, at least one person was injured. A tsunami height of 3-4 meters (10 to 13 feet) was recorded in Kamchatka, 60 centimetres (2 feet) on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, and up to 1.4 feet (under 30 centimetres) above tide levels were observed in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hours after the quake, Hawaii downgraded its tsunami warning to an advisory, while Japan's Meteorological Agency also lowered its alert to an advisory in the Pacific coast south of Fukushima. The alert still in place farther north. Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, the Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense, said an advisory means there is the potential for strong currents and dangerous waves, as well as flooding on beaches or in harbours. Hawaii and Oregon warn residents of potential damage The impact of the tsunami could last for hours or perhaps more than a day, said Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska 'A tsunami is not just one wave,' he said. 'It's a series of powerful waves over a long period of time. Tsunamis cross the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour — as fast as a jet airplane — in deep water. But when they get close to the shore, they slow down and start to pile up. And that's where that inundation problem becomes a little bit more possible there.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'In this case, because of the Earth basically sending out these huge ripples of water across the ocean, they're going to be moving back and forth for quite a while,' which is why some communities may feel effects longer, he said. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said data from Midway Atoll, which is between Japan and Hawaii, measured waves from peak to trough of 6 feet (1.8 meters). He said waves hitting Hawaii could be bigger or smaller and it was too early to tell how large they would be. A tsunami of that size would be akin to a 3-foot (90-centimetre) wave riding on top of surf, he said. 'This is a longitudinal wave with great force driving through the shoreline and into land,' he said at a news conference. Green said Black Hawk helicopters have been activated and high-water vehicles were ready to go in case authorities need to rescue people. 'But please do not put yourself in harm's way,' he said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said on Facebook that small tsunami waves were expected along the coast starting around 11:40 p.m. local time, with wave heights between 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimetres). It urged people to stay away from beaches, harbours and marinas and to remain in a safe location away from the coast until the advisory is lifted. 'This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water,' the department said. Much of the West Coast, spanning California, Washington state, and the Canadian province of British Columbia, was also under a tsunami advisory. A tsunami of less than 30 centimetres (under 1 foot) was forecast to hit parts of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The province's emergency preparedness agency said waves were expected to reach remote Langara Island around 10:05 p.m. Tuesday and Tofino around 11:30 p.m. The agency said 'multiple waves over time' were expected. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In this image taken from a fixed position video, peopel wave tsunami warning flags, seen at the background, to beachgoers immidiately after a strong earthquake near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, in Shirahama, Wakayama prefecture, western Japan Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP) AP The quake at 8:25 a.m. Japan time had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, Japanese and U.S. seismologists said. The U.S. Geological Survey later updated its strength to 8.8 magnitude and a depth of 20.7 kilometres (13 miles). The quake was centred about 119 kilometres (74 miles) east-southeast from the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000, on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Multiple aftershocks as strong as 6.9 magnitude followed. Severokurilsk Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov said the port in the city was flooded by tsunami waves, washing fishing boats into the sea. He said that no major damage was recorded. Power supplies have been shut and the authorities were checking the power network after the flooding. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The earthquake appeared to be the strongest anywhere in the world since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake off northeastern 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 60 centimetres (2 feet) was recorded at Hamanaka town in Hokkaido and Kuji port in Iwate, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Several areas reported smaller waves including 20 centimetres (8 inches) in Tokyo Bay five hours after the quake. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In Japan's northern coastal town of Matsushima, dozens of residents took refuge at an evacuation center, 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. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi warned evacuees that they may not be able to return home by the end of the day, as the tsunami waves could remain high. Japanese nuclear power plants 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 safety. Philippine authorities advised people to stay away from the beach and coastal areas. 'It may not be the largest of waves, but these can continue for hours and expose people swimming in the waters to danger,' Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told The Associated Press. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mexico's navy warned that tsunami waves will start reaching the northern coast in Ensenada, near California, at around 02:22 a.m. Wednesday local time, and waves could progress along the Pacific coast to Chiapas state, around 07:15 a.m. local time. New Zealand authorities warned of 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges' along all coastlines of the South Pacific island nation. The emergency management agency said people should move out of the water, off beaches and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries. People were urged to stay away from coastlines until any wave surges passed late Wednesday in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands. Some tiny and low-lying Pacific island chains are among the world's most imperiled by tsunamis and rising seas due to climate change. Earlier in July, five powerful quakes — the largest with a magnitude of 7.4 — struck in the sea near Kamchatka. The largest quake was at a depth of 20 kilometres and was 144 kilometres (89 miles) east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Columnists MLB Tennis
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
8.7-magnitude earthquake in Russia's Far East sets off tsunami warnings in Japan, Alaska and Hawaii
A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after Japan issued alerts following a strong earthquakes off the Kamchatka Peninsula. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) TOKYO — A tsunami has hit coastal areas of Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan's large northern island of Hokkaido after an 8.7-magnitude earthquake early Wednesday. Tsunami warning sirens blared Tuesday in Honolulu and people were told to move to higher ground. The Japan Meteorological Agency said a first tsunami wave of about 30 centimetres (about one foot) reached Nemuro on the eastern coast of Hokkaido. The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko. He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves of one-to-three metres (yards) above tide level were possible along some coastal areas of Hawaii, Chile, Japan and the Solomon Islands. Waves of more than 3 metres (yards) were possible along some coastal areas of Russia and Ecuador. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. TOKYO (AP) — A magnitude-8.7 earthquake in Russia's Far East early Wednesday prompted tsunami warnings in parts of Japan, Alaska and Hawaii. Damage and evacuations were reported in the Russian regions nearest the quake's epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves of 1 to 3 metres (yards) above tide level were possible along some coastal areas of Hawaii, Chile, Japan and the Solomon Islands. Waves of more than 3 metres (yards) were possible along some coastal areas of Russia and Ecuador. Japan's meteorological agency issued a tsunami alert for Japan's Pacific coast, saying waves up to 3 meter (yards) could arrive along the northern Japanese coasts less than half an hour after the alert. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami had been generated by the quake that could cause damage along the coastlines of all the Hawaiian islands. 'Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,' the warning stated. The first waves were expected around 7 p.m. Tuesday local time. The quake at 8:25 a.m. Japan time had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, Japan and U.S. seismologists said. Japan and the U.S. Geological Survey later updated their measurements to 8.7 magnitude and the USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 19.3 kilometres (12 miles). The quake was about 250 kilometres (160 miles) away from Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four big islands, and was felt only slightly, according to Japan's NHK television. Russia's Tass news agency reported from the biggest city near the epicenter, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, that many people ran out into the street without shoes or outerwear. Cabinets toppled inside homes, mirrors were broken, cars swayed in the street and balconies on buildings shook noticeably. Tass also reported power outages and mobile phone service failures in the capital of the Kamchatka region. Tass also quoted a local Russian official as saying residents on Sakhalin Island were being evacuated and emergency services were working at full capacity. The National Tsunami Warning Center, based in Alaska, issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Alaska Aleutian Islands, and a watch for portions of the West Coast, including California, Oregon, and Washington, and Hawaii. The advisory also includes a vast swath of Alaska's coast line, including parts of the panhandle. Earlier in July, five powerful quakes — the largest with a magnitude of 7.4 — struck in the sea near Kamchatka. The largest quake was at a depth of 20 kilometres and was 144 kilometres (89 miles) east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000. On Nov. 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka caused damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-meter (30-foot) waves in Hawaii. Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant faces new delay in removing melted fuel debris
The Unit 3 reactor covered with protective housing at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is seen in Okuma town, northeastern Japan on Monday Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) The Japanese operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Tuesday said the start of full-scale removal of melted fuel debris will be delayed for several years until 2037 or later, the latest setback underscoring the challenges ahead. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, or TEPCO, said it will need 12 to 15 years of preparation before starting full-scale removal of melted fuel debris at the No. 3 reactor. That preparation includes reducing radiation levels and building necessary facilities in and around the reactor. Overall, at least 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel has mixed with broken parts of internal structures and other debris inside the three reactors that suffered meltdowns at the plant following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The delay again sets back the 2051 target set by Japan's government and TEPCO for decommissioning the plant. A test retrieval of a tiny sample of melted fuel debris in November was already three years behind, and some experts estimate that the decommissioning work could take more than a century. TEPCO said it plans to stick to the current completion target of 2051. 'Realistically, we are aware of the difficulty (to achieve the target) but we will not drop the goal just yet, as we still don't have a clear work schedule after the full-scale removal begins,' said Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at TEPCO. Ono said TEPCO plans to examine preparation work necessary at the two other reactors within the next couple of years ahead of full-scale melted fuel retrieval. After small missions by robots to gather samples, experts will determine a larger-scale method for removing melted fuel, first at the No. 3 reactor. Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Stock markets fall as trade relief fades, eyes on data and earnings
A person stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) HONG KONG: Stocks fell Tuesday (July 29) as the positivity sparked by recent US trade deals dissipated, with investors now focused on the release of key data and earnings, and the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting. While Donald Trump's agreement with the European Union on Sunday was seen as better than a tariff standoff, observers pointed out that the US president's 15 per cent levies - with none on American goods - were still much higher than before. The pact, which followed a similar one with Japan last week, still left many worried about the economic consequences, with auto companies particularly worried. "The 15 per cent blanket levy on EU and Japanese imports may have helped markets sidestep a cliff, but it's no free pass," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. "With the average effective US tariff rate now sitting at 18.2 per cent... the barrier to global trade remains significant. The higher tail risk didn't detonate, but its potential impact on the global economy hasn't disappeared either." And National Australia Bank's Ray Attrill added: "It hasn't taken long for markets to conclude that this relatively good news is still, in absolute terms, bad news as far as the near term (through 2025) implications for eurozone growth are concerned." Traders are also keeping an eye on US talks with other major economies, including India and South Korea. After a tepid day on Wall Street - which still saw the S&P and Nasdaq hit records - Asia turned negative. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta were all in the red. The euro held its losses from Monday, having taken a hit from worries about the effects of the trade deal on the eurozone. The first of two days of negotiations between top US and Chinese officials in Stockholm concluded Monday with no details released, though there are hopes they will agree to extend a 90-day truce that ends on August 12. The two imposed triple-digit tariffs on each other earlier this year in a tit-for-tat escalation, but then walked them back under the temporary agreement reached in May. Investors are also looking ahead to a busy few days that includes earnings from tech titans Apple, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon, as well as data on US economic growth and jobs creation. That all comes as the Fed concludes its policy meeting amid increasing pressure from Trump to slash rates, even with inflation staying stubbornly high. While it is expected to stand pat on borrowing costs, its post-meeting statement and comments from boss Jerome Powell will be pored over for clues about its plans for the second half of the year in light of the tariffs. Oil prices extended Monday's rally after Trump shortened a deadline for Russia to end its war in Ukraine to August 7 or 9, following which he vowed to sanction countries buying its crude. - AFP
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
World shares retreat after Alphabet and AI stocks nudge Wall Street to more records
People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Friday, July 25, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) MANILA, Philippines — World shares retreated on Friday after Wall Street inched to more records as gains for Alphabet and artificial-intelligence stocks helped offset a steep tumble for EV-maker Tesla. In early European trading, Germany's DAX shed 0.6% to 24,152.20, while Britain's FTSE 100 slid 0.4% to 9,101.41. In Paris, the CAC 40 slipped 0.3% to 7,793.33. The futures for S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both were up 0.1% In Asian trading, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.9% to 41,456.23 after two days of gains following President Donald Trump's announcement of a trade deal that would place a 15% tax on imports from Japan. That's lower than the 25% rate that Trump had earlier said would kick in on Aug. 1. Data released on Friday showed the inflation rate in Japan's capital Tokyo rose 2.9% year-on-year in July, down from 3.1% in June. Japanese government efforts to moderate inflation are working, though underlying Tokyo price pressures remain elevated, ING Economics said in a commentary. It expects the Bank of Japan to hold interest rates steady at its July 30-31 meeting, but said the central bank would likely raise its forecast for inflation. In Chinese markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.1% to 25,388.35 and the Shanghai Composite index slid 0.3% to 3,593.66. Next week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said he will meet with Chinese officials in Stockholm, Sweden, to work toward a trade deal with Beijing ahead of an Aug. 12 deadline. Trump has said a China trip 'is not too distant' as trade tensions ease. 'One big question for markets is whether the tariff ceasefire is extended. We expect that an agreement will be attainable, but, in the interim, markets will watch closely to see if there are adjustments to current tariff rates in either direction,' ING Economics said. In South Korea, the Kospi picked up 0.2% to 3,196.05, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.5% to 8,666.90. Taiwan's Taiex edged less than 0.1% lower, and in India, the Sensex fell 0.9%. On Thursday, the S&P 500 added 0.1% to its all-time high set the day before, closing at 6,363.35. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7% to 44,693.91, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2% to a record 21,057.96. Alphabet climbed 1% after the company behind Google and YouTube delivered a fatter profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It's leaning more into artificial-intelligence technology and said it's increasing its budget for AI chips and other investments this year by US$10 billion to $85 billion. That helped push up other stocks in the AI industry, including a 1.7% rise for Nvidia. The chip company was the strongest single force lifting the S&P 500 because it's the largest on Wall Street in terms of value. But an 8.2% drop for Tesla kept the market in check. Elon Musk's electric-vehicle company reported results for the spring that were roughly in line with or above analysts' expectations, and Musk is trying to highlight Tesla's moves into AI and robotaxis. The focus, though, remains on how Musk's foray into politics is turning off potential customers, and he said several rough quarters may be ahead as 'we're in this weird transition period where we'll lose a lot of incentives in the U.S.' Stocks have broadly been rallying for weeks on hopes that President Donald Trump will reach trade deals with other countries that will lower his stiff proposed tariffs, along with the risk that they could cause a recession and drive up inflation. In other dealings on Friday, U.S. benchmark crude oil added 21 cents to $66.24 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 18 cents to $68.54 per barrel. The U.S. dollar rose to 147.88 Japanese yen from 147.00 yen. The euro fell to $1.1736 from $1.1750. Teresa Cerojano, The Associated Press
