A powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, prompting a cascade of tsunami alerts across the Pacific, with varying responses across the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre 133 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 74 km. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued warnings for potential waves up to 4 metres along the Russian coastline and placed vast areas of the Pacific Rim — from Japan to South America — under surveillance.

In Latin America, Chile and Ecuador moved swiftly to activate emergency protocols. Chile’s disaster agency Senapred declared a tsunami threat across all its coastlines, including Antarctica. Preventive evacuations were ordered in areas such as Easter Island, projected to be the first to experience wave activity, with impacts expected by 9:25am local time the next day. According to Senapred Director Alicia Cebrián, the window before wave arrival allowed time for logistical preparedness. Chilean authorities urged the public to monitor official updates and refrain from spreading misinformation.

Ecuador issued its alert shortly after, focusing on the Galápagos Islands and parts of the mainland coast. The Navy’s Oceanographic Institute (Inocar) placed the archipelago under a tsunami “Warning” status and the continental coast under “Watch.” Inocar released schedules estimating the arrival of waves to Puerto Seymour by 09:48 local time on July 30. Authorities advised the suspension of maritime activity and evacuation of beaches and ports.

Colombia also reportedly ordered evacuations along its Pacific coast on July 30. “As a preventative measure, it is recommended to evacuate the beaches and low-lying areas on the coasts of Nariño and Chocó,” the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said. “Head to higher ground away from the coast.”

Peru, however, faced criticism over its delayed response. Despite the PTWC including Peru in its regional watch zone shortly after the seismic event, the Peruvian Navy refrained from issuing any formal tsunami alert for hours. Initial bulletins from its National Tsunami Warning System downplayed the threat. The first notice claimed no tsunami risk, the second called for intensified monitoring, and only the third — released hours later — acknowledged the quake's updated magnitude of 8.7, yet still denied a tsunami alert for the country.

Meteorologist Abraham Levy, posting on X, forecasted wave activity along the Peruvian coast ranging from 0.30 to 1.00 metres, beginning in the north at Talara around 11:15am and reaching the south by 1:40pm. La Punta in Callao was expected to see impact at approximately 12:35pm. He said that, although the waves may appear minor, they could still affect commercial, sporting, and recreational coastal zones.

Rear Admiral Jorge Vizcarra, head of the Navy’s Hydrography and Navigation Directorate, later confirmed to RPP the issuance of a tsunami alert on the night of July 29, indicating the possibility of wave trains rather than a single wave. He added that tidal conditions, such as high tide during the new moon phase, could exacerbate impacts depending on port locations.