Has Russia had a Tsunami? Recent Tsunami, Impact, and the History

Russia’s geographic location causes the country to be vulnerable to various natural hazards. One of these disasters is the tsunami. So, has Russia had a tsunami? Yes, this country has had a tsunami in the past month. Moreover, this region also has a colorful tsunami history.

The first recorded tsunami in Russia dates back to 1737. After that, many tsunamis had struck this region. Some of the tsunamis in this country were caused by a local/regional earthquake. However, others were distant tsunamis originating from other countries.

Has Russia had a Tsunami? Most Recent Update

Has Russia ever had a tsunami? People in Russia, specifically in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, are familiar with tsunamis. Both regional and distant tsunamis have often affected this country in the last century. 

The most recent tsunami on Russian coasts occurred at the end of July 2025. This hazard was the impact of an 8.8-M megathrust earthquake. The power of this earthquake has displaced an enormous amount of seawater. Consequently, tsunami waves hit coastal areas in Kamchatka and other regions.

1. Tsunami Height

Kamchatka Tsunami’s height varied depending on the regions. The highest wave in some of Kamchatka’s coastlines and neighboring islands was 6 meters. Moreover, in other areas, the tsunami height was approximately 3 or 4 m.

However, US tsunami scientists predicted that the tsunami height could reach 40 meters in remote areas or low-populated regions of Kamchatka. Furthermore, the tsunami inundation flooded as far as 650 m inland.

2. Affected Countries

What countries have been hit by a tsunami of Kamchatka? After the megathrust earthquake in Kamchatka, the global tsunami warning system broadcast a tsunami alert to many countries along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

This tsunami hit many coastal areas in Japan. The highest tsunami height in this country was 1.3 m. Moreover, this hazard also affected several regions in French Polynesia, Hawaii, Chile, and other countries. In Chile, the highest tsunami height was 2.5 m.

3. Impact

The earthquake and tsunami injured four people in Kamchatka. These disasters also damaged various infrastructure and buildings, including a nuclear submarine base. Moreover, the earthquake and tsunami caused cellular service failures and power outages.

Tsunami History in Russia

In the past, has Russia had a tsunami? Yes, the 2025 Kamchatka Tsunami is not the only deadly wave to ever strike this country. Since the 1700s, 33 tsunamis have swept Russian coasts. Some of them were massive and destructive, while others were relatively harmless.

In total, this catastrophe has caused 4,000 fatalities in this country. Below are several remarkable tsunamis in Russia.

1. 1952 Kamchatka Tsunami

A tsunami that happened recently in Kamchatka is nothing compared to that occurred in November 1952. Throughout Russia’s tsunami history, the 1952 Kamchatka Tsunami is the deadliest and most destructive.

The trigger of this deadly wave was an earthquake of a magnitude 9 with an epicenter near Kamchatka. This tsunami affected more than 10 countries along the Pacific. Moreover, it caused more than 10,000 fatalities worldwide. 

In Russia, over 4,000 people died due to this tsunami. The 1952 Kamchatka Tsunami hit Russian coastal areas 45 minutes after the quake. Moreover, its height reached 23 meters. Therefore, it is not surprising that it caused infrastructural/property damage and numerous fatalities.

2. 1918 Kuril Islands Tsunami

In September 1918, an earthquake shook the Kuril Islands at a magnitude of 8.2. This earthquake also triggered a tsunami in Russia and other regions, such as Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska. 

In the Kuril Islands, the height of this tsunami was up to 12 meters. In addition, this massive wave injured 7 Russians and killed 23 others. The tsunami also damaged 9 houses on the coast of the Kuril Islands.

3. 1923 Kamchatka Tsunami

Five years after the Kuril Islands Tsunami, a tsunami hit Kamchatka. The trigger of this tsunami was a 7.2-M earthquake. This earthquake was not as powerful as the Kuril Islands Earthquake in 1918. However, the latter produced a larger tsunami.

The tsunami was approximately 20 m tall. This deadly wave swept Kamchatka’s coastlines only 15 minutes after the earthquake. This tsunami also struck other countries. In addition, this disaster killed 36 people worldwide. 

4. 1993 Okushiri Tsunami

In 1993, a distant tsunami affected some of Russia’s coastlines. This tsunami originated from Okushiri, Japan. In Russia, the height of this deathly wave was around 6 m. 

Moreover, this hazard caused 3 fatalities in Russia. However, worldwide, the Okushiri Tsunami killed more than 200 people.

Recently, has Russia had a tsunami? Yes, a tsunami occurred in Russia several weeks ago. This hazard also affected countries along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Considering the tsunami risk in the Pacific, countries in this zone must have resilient and effective TEWSs. Please visit smsbroadcaster.com if you want to improve your country’s TEWS.