July 30, 2025
“A tsunami is not just one wave. 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.”
A tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, Dave Snider, explaining the ongoing effects of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Russia’s Far East early Wednesday.
Why It Matters: The earthquake — one of the one of the four largest of the 21st century — triggered tsunami waves, causing advisories and warnings for millions around the world to seek higher ground. Some of the impacted areas include Russia, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. West Coast. Authorities have begun lifting some of the emergency precautions, but the tsunami impacts could last for several hours or up to a day in some areas.
Learn More:
- Tsunami warning lifted for Hawaii after small waves hit following mighty 8.8 earthquake in Russia. (CBS News)
- Live updates from the Associated Press
Image Credit: United States Coast Guard
by Emily Hooker, based in Texas
