A tsunami sent waves into Japan, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast early Wednesday morning after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia Tuesday.
A tsunami advisory, which called for strong currents and unpredictable waves, was canceled for the Oregon and Washington coasts until just after 10 a.m. Wednesday.
A Tsunami Advisory means strong currents and unpredictable waves are expected. Even if no large wave is visible,...
Posted by Oregon Department of Emergency Management on Tuesday, July 29, 2025
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said that during tsunami advisories, even when no large waves are visible, dangerous conditions are possible along the coast.
Officials had urged people overnight and into Wednesday morning to stay away from beaches, harbors and marinas.
Oregon’s coastal fishing businesses reported minimal to no impacts from the warning and high waves that reached the coast overnight. Most canneries and processing plants on the Oregon Coast are in protected harbors, and there were no reports of affected fishing boats as of midday Wednesday.
Tsunami activity can continue for more than 20 hours after the initial waves.
The earthquake was one of the biggest ever recorded. Several people were injured, but none seriously, and no major damage has been reported so far.
The earthquake that hit Japan in 2011 was a 9.1 magnitude, creating a tsunami that reached as high as 120 feet and left a trail of destruction.
Many seismologists have been predicting such a quake — “The Big One” — could hit the West Coast in the next 50 years. In the following video, OPB’s Kristian Foden-Vencil explains just how big a 9.0 magnitude quake is compared to lesser tremors.
