On July 30, 2025, at 11:24 a.m. local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, generating a Pacific-wide tsunami. Although this powerful earthquake was tied as the sixth strongest ever recorded by seismometers, the tsunami was weaker than initially feared, and the impact in terms of loss of life was minimal. In this episode, we examine how effective planning and warning systems helped minimize casualties. We also debunk a myth about a "parade of erupting volcanoes" and share essential tsunami safety information – all while doing our best to pronounce some beautifully complicated place names.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome message
00:15 – 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula earthquake
00:33 – Kuril-Kamchatka Trench
00:40 – Shaking intensity & impact
01:00 – Pacific-wide tsunami
01:22 – Tsunami less destructive than feared
01:56 – Lessons from 1952 earthquake
02:24 – Relocation of Severo-Kurilsk
02:37 – Planning + warnings helped save lives
02:48 – Parade of erupting volcanoes?
03:10 – Krasheninnikov eruption
03:22 – Four ongoing eruptions
03:31 – Multiple eruptions not unusual for Kamchatka
04:00 – Subduction zone earthquakes can trigger eruptions
04:33 – Tsunami safety information
05:06 – Natural warning signs
05:45 – 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: Tilly Smith story
06:51 – Preparedness + education saves lives
06:59 – Our “why”
07:05 – More tsunami safety tips
07:44 – Closing message
📚 Learn More
🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake
https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/2025-kamchatka-earthquake
🔗 Cal OES: Tsunami Preparedness
🔗 NOAA / NWS: Tsunami Safety
https://www.weather.gov/media/owlie/TsunamiSafety-OnePager-02-28-2019.pdf
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🎵 Music By Soularflair
Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio
CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/