Four whales have been found stranded on a beach in Japan following one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The 8.7-magnitude quake struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula early this morning, triggering tsunami waves that have already hit parts of Russia's Kuril Islands, Japan's Hokkaido, and Hawaii.
Footage broadcast on Japanese television showed the whales washed ashore in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture. Tsunamis can cause whales to beach themselves due to rapid changes in water levels and currents near the coast, as water initially pulls back from the shore at high speed.
Nearly two million people in Japan have been urged to evacuate to higher ground, particularly in Hokkaido, Kanagawa, and Wakayama prefectures. In Hokkaido, residents were seen sheltering on roofs as the first waves arrived at 10:40 am local time (2:40 am BST). Tsunami sirens sounded, and mobile phone alerts warned: 'Damage due to tsunami waves is expected. Evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas to a safer place such as high ground or an evacuation building.'
In Hawaii, traffic gridlock was reported as residents attempted to flee to higher ground, with long queues at petrol stations near downtown Honolulu. Flights to the holiday destination have been cancelled. US President Donald Trump issued a warning on X, urging those in Hawaii to evacuate and noting that a tsunami watch was in effect for Alaska and the US Pacific Coast.
The earthquake is the largest since the 2011 disaster, when a 9.0–9.1 magnitude quake killed over 19,000 people in Japan and generated tsunami waves up to 40 metres high. Tsunami warnings remain in place for parts of South America, including Mexico, Chile, and Ecuador.
