Whales Found stranded on Japanese Coast Following Tsunami - Footage Available
In a series of unfortunate events, Japan and Hawaii were struck by the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that occurred off Japan's coast on July 30, 2025. The earthquake, measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, was one of the ten biggest ever recorded in Japan, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake generated a tsunami that affected coastal areas across the Pacific, including Japan. Authorities in Japan urged citizens to stay alert for potential bigger waves and thousands were evacuated from Hawaii to Japan due to the tsunami warning. Videos of the earthquake shared on social media showed cars and houses shaking vigorously.
In the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, four whales were found stranded in Tateyama City, Japan. The sudden and strong changes in the ocean environment from the seismic activity and tsunami waves disturbed the natural movement and habitats of marine animals. Such disturbances can disorient whales and undersea mammals, pushing them toward shallow coastal waters, where they are vulnerable to stranding.
The whales washing ashore is a rare event, as whales are usually not affected by tsunamis. Social media user Sumit (@SumitHansd) commented that the event was indicative of the devastation caused by the quake to marine life. The whales were found stranded shortly after the earthquake and tsunami event, indicating a temporal and spatial linkage between the marine disturbance caused by the earthquake and the whale strandings.
The tsunami reached a height of 1.3 meters in Japan. Japanese civilians were seen taking shelter on top of a building in Hokkaido due to the tsunami warning. The earthquake left several people injured but no deaths were reported. Hawaii was also struck by a 1.2-meter tsunami, following warnings that waves could impact both Hawaii and Alaska.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025). Earthquake and Tsunami Strike Japan and Hawaii. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-62308741
[2] National Geographic. (2025). Whales Stranded After Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2025/07/whales-stranded-after-earthquake-and-tsunami-in-japan/
[3] The Guardian. (2025). Japan and Hawaii Hit by Tsunami Following Earthquake Off Japan's Coast. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/30/japan-and-hawaii-hit-by-tsunami-following-earthquake-off-japans-coast
[4] The New York Times. (2025). Four Whales Found Stranded in Japan After Earthquake and Tsunami. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/world/asia/four-whales-found-stranded-in-japan-after-earthquake-and-tsunami.html
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