How long it takes for tsunami to hit after earthquake as millions of people evacuated across the world

A terrifying timelapse of the 2011 earthquake in Japan has highlighted just how long it takes for a tsunami to hit the rest of the globe following an earthquake.

The animation by Tohoku University, which broke the events down hour by hour, has resurfaced amid the ongoing tsunami warnings following an earthquake that struck Russia this morning (30 July).

Dubbed as one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded, the 8.8-magnitude tremor has caused tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska, while warnings have been issued in at least 16 other countries around the world.

Millions of people have been forced to evacuate in Japan, Russia and in parts of the US west coast, and the BBC has reported that the waves have now reached California.

So far, there are thankfully no reports of any fatalities and most places where tsunami waves have already washed ashore have reported no significant damage so far.

The earthquake is reportedly the strongest anywhere in the world since the Japan 2011 quake which had a magnitude of 9.0 - and it’s also the joint-sixth strongest quake ever recorded on Earth.

As the events continue to unfold, people are looking back at the events of the Japan quake that took place 14 years ago and left over 18,000 people dead.

The timelapse highlighted how the huge wave was able to cross the largest ocean on the planet within hours.

How long it takes for an earthquake to cause a tsunami all depends on how far the epicentre of the earthquake is from a coastal area - for some places it will be minutes, while for others it could be hours.

Timeline of 2025 Russia earthquake and tsunami

An earthquake that hit Russia this morning has led to tsunami warnings around the world (YUICHI YAMAZAKI / Getty Images)

12.25am - earthquake off Russia's coast

The quake struck at 8.25am Japan time (12.25am BST) off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

It hit 74 miles east-southeast from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 165,000.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, Japan and US seismologists said, before the US Geological Survey later updated its strength to 8.8 magnitude and the USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 13 miles.

According to reports, multiple aftershocks as strong as 6.9 magnitude followed.

2.40am - tsunami waves hit Japan

The first tsunami waves arrived in the city of Hokkaido at 10.40am local time (2.40am BST).

Four thousand workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant were evacuated.

A tsunami wave 1.3 metres (4.3 feet) tall was recorded at Kuji Port in Iwate prefecture in northeastern Japan, with the waves reported to be growing.

The initial quake struck at 12.25am BST (SOPA Images / Getty Images)

7am - tsunami waves hit Hawaii

As the news reached Hawaii, residents on the coast were urged to get to high ground or the fourth floor or above of buildings.

The US coast guard ordered ships out of harbours and roads began to get backed up with traffic as people tried to flee.

"Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected," the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management warned on social media.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that shortly after 7am BST, 1-1.2-metre waves were impacting the Hawaiian islands.

NBC News has since reported that waves of nearly 6 feet were recorded in Maui, according to NOAA data.

As per the BBC, Hawaiian officials have since downgraded tsunami alerts to an advisory level, and told residents that they may now return home with caution.

How long it takes for an earthquake to cause a tsunami all depends on how far the epicenter of the earthquake is from a coastal area (APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)

8.30am - tsunami waves hit California

According to the LA Times, Northern California began seeing its first tsunami waves of around 1.5 feet in Crescent City at 12.38am local time (8.38am BST).

The waves in the area have since been recorded at 3.6ft (1.09m), according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.

The National Weather Service for Los Angeles has now warned there is ‘a rapid and damaging surge’ in Port San Luis.

In a tweet, they urged: “The Port San Luis gauge shows a rapid and damaging surge, going from low to high tide in just a few minutes.

“Do not return to inundated areas as waters will recede, but could return multiple times through the next 24 hours, and the first wave may not be the largest.”