In the hours following the earthquake, Russia’s Klyuchevskoy volcano began erupting, according to state agency RIA. The volcano is the tallest in Siberia and one of the most active in the world. The eruption is its fifth since the start of the decade.

Waves between three and five metres hit parts of Kamchatka’s coastline, especially near the epicentre. The coastal town of Severo-Kurilsk on Sakhalin Island experienced flooding, and residents were evacuated. Several injuries were reported in Russia’s Far East, though no fatalities have been confirmed. Structural damage included a collapsed daycare wall and damage to fisheries and port facilities.

The tsunami reached Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, and the US West Coast within hours. In Hawaii, the strongest waves measured up to two metres, particularly in Kahului and Hilo. Authorities issued evacuation orders for parts of Oahu, including Honolulu’s coastal districts. No significant damage or injuries were reported, and the alert was downgraded by Wednesday afternoon Finnish time.

Tsunami sirens sounded in Honolulu around 6:00am Finnish time, and waves began arriving shortly after 10:00am. Flights were temporarily halted, ports closed, and coastal residents were told to seek higher ground.

Japan issued evacuation orders affecting 1.9 million people across several prefectures, including Hokkaido and Wakayama. Early waves of 30 to 40 centimetres were reported, but later swells as high as 1.3 metres reached Iwate. The Fukushima nuclear plant evacuated 4,000 workers as a precaution, though authorities stated the facility remained safe.

Warnings were also issued in Alaska, California, Ecuador, New Zealand, and the Philippines. By midday Finnish time, the alerts had been lifted in several Pacific territories, including Guam and the Mariana Islands.

In the United States, tsunami activity reached California, Oregon, and Washington. The highest waves recorded so far were under half a metre, including in Santa Barbara and near the Oregon border. Despite their small size, authorities warned that low tsunamis can still be hazardous.

Seismologist Lucy Jones, speaking to the BBC, said that waves as low as one metre can carry vehicles and debris, causing significant danger in coastal areas. “The danger is not always in the height, but in the power and flow of the water,” she explained.

According to Japan’s meteorological agency, tsunami waves may continue to arrive intermittently for several more hours or even over 24 hours in some regions.

The Kamchatka earthquake is now ranked as the sixth strongest ever recorded globally. It matches the magnitude of previous major earthquakes and follows the 2011 Tōhoku quake in Japan, which measured 9.0 and led to the Fukushima disaster.

While the full extent of material damage is still being assessed, the rapid eruption of Klyuchevskoy volcano has added to concerns in the region. Authorities have not reported lava flows threatening population centres, but air traffic in the area has been placed on alert due to potential ash clouds.