Canadians planning trips around the Pacific are being warned to stay cautious after a massive earthquake off the coast of eastern Russia triggered tsunami alerts across the region.
The 8.8‑magnitude quake struck near the Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday night and is one of the strongest ever recorded. In the hours that followed, tsunami warnings spread from Asia to South America — and now, 38 countries and territories are flagged in Canada’s latest list of travel advisories.
The federal government is urging Canadians to avoid beaches, follow local evacuation plans and stay tuned to official alerts. In many of the affected areas, strong waves and aftershocks are still possible.
A tsunami advisory is also in effect here at home for parts of coastal B.C., including Haida Gwaii, the north and central coast, and sections of Vancouver Island. Emergency Info BC warned that “strong and potentially dangerous waves” could impact the shoreline and told residents to stay away from the water.
Waves from the quake have already reached Japan, Hawaii and California, while Chile has begun evacuating parts of its coast. Some waves reportedly reached up to 15 metres in remote parts of Russia.
If you’re heading to one of the affected regions, officials recommend reviewing local safety procedures, avoiding coastal zones, and staying informed about local news.
Countries and territories flagged by Canada:
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Macao
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia
- Mexico
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Niue
- Northern Marianas
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Russia
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Taiwan
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- United States (Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska)
- Vanuatu
For the latest updates, visit Canada’s official travel advisories.
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