Residents of coastal areas in Hawaii were told to get to high ground or the fourth floor or above of buildings on Wednesday, as a tsunami approached the islands. The U.S. Coast Guard ordered ships out of harbors.
"Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected," the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management posted on X.
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Evacuation from coastal areas in Hawaii in anticipation of tsunami waves hitting the shores
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Warnings to evacuate ahead of a tsunami issued in Hawaii
(Photo: Jennifer Sinco Kelleher / AP)
The warnings issued in areas stretching across the Pacific Ocean came after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula in the early morning hours.
"Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was shallow at a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles) and was centered 119 km (74 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000. It revised the magnitude up from 8.0 earlier and reported a strong aftershock of magnitude 6.9 soon after.
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Damage from the earthquake in a pre-school in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
(Photo: Reuters)
Shortly after 0600 GMT, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said 1-1.2-meter waves were impacting the Hawaiian islands.
"Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property," The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said all flights in and out of Maui were cancelled but no significant waves were observed thus far.
"We received an alert around 1:30 p.m. (Hawaii time), Misha Kraker, a tour guide staying in Hawaii told Ynet. "We had several hours. The tsunami wave was planned to arrive at 7:17 p.m., but nothing significant is visible," he said, adding his tip to people in Hawaii is to get to high ground.
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Tsunami waves struck parts of Kamchatka, partially flooding the port and a fish processing plant in the town of Severo-Kurilsk and sweeping vessels from their moorings, regional officials and Russia's emergency ministry said.
"Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. Russian scientists said it was the most powerful quake to hit the region since 1952.
Waves as high as five meters hit the Russian Pacific town of Severo-Kurilsk, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing emergency services.
Warnings and evacuations were issued in areas stretching across the Pacific Ocean.
"A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit tsunami.gov/ for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!"
U.S. President Donald Trump also issued a warning on his social media platform. "Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii," he wrote.
The impact of the tsunami could last for hours or perhaps more than a day, said Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska. "A tsunami is not just one wave," he said. :It's a series of powerful waves over a long period of time. Tsunamis cross the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour -- as fast as a jet airplane -- in deep water. But when they get close to the shore, they slow down and start to pile up. And that's where that inundation problem becomes a little bit more possible there."
He said that in this case, because the Earth was "basically sending out these huge ripples of water across the ocean, they're going to be moving back and forth for quite a while."
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said on Facebook that small tsunami waves were expected along the coast starting around 11:40 p.m. local time, with wave heights between 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters). It urged people to stay away from beaches, harbors and marinas and to remain in a safe location away from the coast until the advisory is lifted.
"This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water," the department said.
Much of the West Coast, spanning California, Washington state, and the Canadian province of British Columbia, was also under a tsunami advisory.