MxM News

Quick Hit:

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s eastern coast Tuesday, prompting widespread tsunami alerts across the Pacific. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned waves could impact Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. West Coast, and parts of Canada and Japan. Emergency officials urged residents to move to higher ground immediately where advised.

Key Details:

• The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed tsunami waves of over 9 feet are possible along the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Russia’s eastern shores. Waves between 3 to 9 feet are also possible in Hawaii, Guam, and parts of Japan.
• Hawaii could begin seeing waves around 7:17 p.m. local time Tuesday (1 a.m. ET), while the West Coast threat is still being evaluated. Projected wave arrival times include 11:40 p.m. PT in Washington and Oregon, 12:40 a.m. PT in San Francisco, and 1:05 a.m. PT in Los Angeles.
• U.S. tsunami watches include connected inland waters such as San Francisco Bay, the Columbia River coastline, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Japan also issued tsunami warnings for multiple eastern regions, with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo urging immediate evacuation.

Diving Deeper:

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded shook the Pacific Rim Tuesday evening, registering a magnitude of 8.8 off Russia’s far eastern coastline. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) quickly issued alerts for wide swaths of the Pacific, warning of potentially life-threatening waves.

“A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii,” the PTWC said, warning residents that “urgent action could be taken to protect lives and property.”

Initial assessments indicated that tsunami waves could exceed 9 feet above normal tide levels in parts of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and coastal Russia. Elsewhere, waves as high as 3 to 9 feet could strike regions across Hawaii, Japan, and Guam. According to the PTWC, the first waves were expected to reach Hawaii by 7:17 p.m. local time Tuesday (1 a.m. ET Wednesday).

On the U.S. mainland, officials are monitoring the threat along the entire West Coast, including Alaska. Preliminary estimates suggest that tsunami activity could reach coastal Washington and Oregon around 11:40 p.m. PT, San Francisco around 12:40 a.m. PT, and Los Angeles by 1:05 a.m. PT. Tsunami watches were extended to include key inland waterways connected to the Pacific, such as the Columbia River coast and San Francisco Bay.

The danger zone stretches across the Pacific, including Japan, where officials issued multiple warnings. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo posted on X, “A #tsunami warning is currently in effect for the Eastern Pacific Coast of #Hokkaido and #Tohoku region, #Kanto region, Izu & Ogasawara Islands, Tokai region, and Wakayama Prefecture. Tsunami waves may arrive imminently—evacuate immediately to higher ground.”

Authorities in the U.S., Canada, and throughout the Pacific continue to monitor the developing situation, with the PTWC promising further updates as additional data becomes available.

MxM News

Quick Hit:

Flash flooding in Kerr County, Texas has left at least 43 people dead—including 15 children—after a wall of water tore through camps and neighborhoods along the Guadalupe River. Among the victims were young girls attending a Christian summer camp, as families grieve and recovery efforts intensify.

Key Details:

• Officials confirmed Saturday that 43 people have died—28 adults and 15 children—following early Friday morning floods in Kerr County. Seventeen victims remain unidentified.
• Four young girls who died—ages 8 and 9—were attending Camp Mystic, a nearly 100-year-old Christian summer camp for girls. Dozens of campers were briefly unaccounted for.
• The camp’s director, Dick Eastland, was among the dead after reportedly racing to a cabin in an effort to save girls trapped in rising waters. Another local camp director also died.

Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock.

We will not stop until everyone is accounted for. pic.twitter.com/tqwTr1RkEi

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 4, 2025

Diving Deeper:

Texas is reeling from one of the deadliest flash floods in recent memory, with at least 43 confirmed dead—including 15 children—after floodwaters surged through Kerr County early Friday morning. Officials said 12 adults and five children have yet to be identified.

Much of the devastation centered around the historic Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls situated along the Guadalupe River, where dozens of campers were swept up in the flood. Family members have since confirmed that four of the victims—8-year-olds Renee Smajstrla and Sarah Marsh, and 9-year-olds Janie Hunt and Lila Bonner—had been attending the camp.

Renee’s uncle reportedly wrote on Facebook that she was “living her best life at Camp Mystic.” Sarah’s family shared that the Alabama girl was “a spunky ray of light,” while Lila’s relatives described their pain as “unimaginable.”

The camp’s longtime director, Dick Eastland, died heroically while trying to rescue girls from a cabin as waters rushed through the grounds. Another director, Jane Ragsdale of the nearby Heart O’ the Hills Camp, was also killed. Though her camp wasn’t in session, she was on the property when the flood struck.

Camp Mystic, which serves hundreds of girls each summer, was left in ruins. “The camp was completely destroyed,” said 13-year-old Elinor Lester, who was among those rescued. Photos show cabins torn open, trees ripped from the ground, and bunk beds submerged nearly to the top by river water.

As many as 27 girls at the camp were swept up by the flooding, but several have since been reunited with their families. Ashley Flack, whose daughter attended Mystic, said Saturday, “There are lots of families missing, children and friends… Our daughter is safe. Our son is safe. The operation to get the girl camp out did a good job.”

Rescue missions pulled at least 858 people to safety, and eight were reported injured. Officials noted that while other nearby camps were also impacted, those campers have been accounted for and are awaiting evacuation as crews work to repair damaged roads.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott expanded a disaster declaration on Saturday to include 21 counties. More than 1,000 state personnel and 800 vehicles are assisting in rescue and recovery, while FEMA, the Texas National Guard, and Coast Guard aircraft have been deployed to aid in the search.

President Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday, saying: “Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”

Forecasters say more rain could fall over the next 48 hours, raising the risk of additional flooding across Central Texas. The Guadalupe River last saw similar tragedy in 1987, when 10 teenagers died after a church bus was swept away.