BGU Earthquake Expert Speaks to Ynet About Tsunami Threat
BGU Earthquake Expert Speaks to Ynet About Tsunami Threat
July 30, 2025
Dr. Ron Avni, Comptroller and earthquake expert at BGU
Ynet News—Israel’s embassy in Japan has issued a notice to all Israelis in the country, urging them to follow local authorities and listen to instructions broadcast by the media over fear that a tsunami will reach Japan’s shores. “Stay away from the coastline, don’t go out to take pictures, and avoid low-lying areas. This is a serious and dangerous situation, and I hope it ends safely,” Gilad Cohen, Israel’s ambassador to Japan, told Ynet.
Following the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East, tsunami waves up to five meters high were recorded along Russia’s coastline on Wednesday morning, and waves reaching 1.3 meters were also observed along Japan’s shores.
Shortly after the alert, traffic jams formed on Honolulu’s roads as thousands fled to higher ground hours before the expected arrival of the tsunami waves.
Uiversity of the Negev (BGU), explained that “this very powerful earthquake is expected to affect not just Hawaii, but the U.S. West Coast as well. It’s wise to move to higher ground. If there are traffic jams in Hawaii, then getting to the fifth floor in a hotel is a good idea.”
He said tsunami waves could also reach South America, Australia and the Philippines. “They could be meters high, wave after wave flooding the area,” Avni said. “The 2004 tsunami reached all the way to Africa. Waves like these could certainly hit the U.S. West Coast. The clock started ticking hours ago, when the quake hit. Deep-sea waves can reach speeds of 800–900 km/h. As they near shore, their speed decreases, but wave height increases.”
Regarding the possibility of a tsunami in Israel, Avni said the chances are minimal, but stressed that “we are not prepared in terms of infrastructure.” He noted that “in 2008, the government decided to allocate 3.5 billion shekels over 25 years to reinforce public buildings, hospitals and schools according to location and condition. The plan began in 2010 but was halted after two years due to disputes among the Finance, Health, and Education ministries over funding—so it was barely implemented.”
He added: “The State Comptroller reported that of 1,500 schools slated for earthquake reinforcement since 2010, only 50 have been reinforced. So the government is not ensuring the plan is executed. When it hits us, it will hit with full force.”
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