July 30, 2025 | 12:00 PM
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN — Dozens of residents in Mukawa town, Hokkaido sought refuge atop a fire station on Wednesday, July 30, following a magnitude 8.7 earthquake that struck Russia’s Far East, prompting tsunami alerts across parts of northern Japan.
Local authorities quickly urged residents to move to higher ground, as coastal areas braced for potential tsunami waves triggered by the powerful undersea quake.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued a tsunami warning for communities along the country’s eastern seaboard, particularly those facing the Pacific Ocean.
PHIVOLCS announced that tsunami waves of less than one meter in height could reach the Philippine shoreline. According to the agency, the first waves are expected to arrive between 1:20 PM and 2:40 PM today. However, they cautioned that the initial waves may not be the largest, and tsunami activity may continue for several hours.
Residents in affected areas are advised to stay away from beaches, ports, and low-lying coastal zones, and to remain alert for updates from local authorities.
The situation is being closely monitored both by Japanese disaster agencies and PHIVOLCS as they assess potential impacts and prepare for aftershocks or additional wave surges.
