No damage confirmed at Russian nuclear base as Japan evacuates nuclear plants after tsunami warning

A massive 8.8 quake off Kamchatka triggered tsunami alerts and evacuations, while some unconfirmed social media reports claimed heavy damage at a Russian submarine base.

The quake, centered 119 kilometers (74 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 20.7 kilometers (13 miles), is the strongest to hit the region since 1952, according to the Russian Academy of Sciences.

USGS map shows seismic activity following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, July 30, 2025. (Image via earthquake.usgs.gov)

Russia’s Pacific Fleet base under scrutiny

Unverified reports suggested possible structural damage to Russia’s Vilyuchinsk submarine base, which houses Borei-class ballistic missile submarines. These vessels form a critical part of Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent. However, as of Wednesday, no official confirmation has been provided regarding damage or flooding at the facility.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and local Russian agencies reported localized flooding in Severo-Kurilsk and minor damage in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific, including for Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast.

Fukushima plant evacuated as precaution

In Japan, workers at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in the northeast were evacuated on Wednesday following the tsunami warning triggered by the quake.

A spokeswoman for plant operator TEPCO told AFP that “all workers and employees” had been evacuated, but noted that “no abnormality” had been observed at the site.

The plant, which experienced a meltdown after the 2011 tsunami, remains under close monitoring.

Details to follow…

July 30, 2025 08:47 AM GMT+03:00