Waves are hitting Hawaii after a tsunami warning was triggered by a massive earthquake off Russia’s far east coast.
A warning was issued for Pacific Island nations to evacuate after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center recorded a 4-foot-tall wave at Haleiwa, Oahu, which is the biggest measured so far, but things are expected to get worse.
Highlights
- An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
- Pacific Island nations, including the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, have been urged to evacuate immediately.
- Haleiwa, Oahu, recorded a 4-foot-tall tsunami wave, the largest observed so far in Hawaii.
Tsunami waves have hit Hawaii after an earthquake off Russia
Image credits: Kamchatka of Geophysical Survey/Anadolu via Getty Images
Residents are being urged to move to higher ground and shelter.
Tsunami warnings have also been issued for Japan, Northern California, parts of Alaska, and several Pacific Island nations, including the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Marshall Islands, and parts of Papua New Guinea.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green spoke at a press conference and said no damage had been reported so far.
“So far we have not seen a wave of consequence, which is a great relief to us,” he said.
“We expect to be about two to three hours at least until we can call ‘all clear.’ So far though, at the moment, so good,” he added.
“We don’t want anyone to let their guard down, we want to go another couple of hours. As the waves cycle smaller and smaller, that’s how we’ll know that we’re ending this concern.”
Earlier, a receding shore was spotted in Oahu island, which suggested a large tsunami wave was approaching.
“Everything has been OK so far. We haven’t seen a big wave. But when that water receded in Haleiwa and we saw some boats laying on dry rock and sand, that gave us pause. That doesn’t happen for no reason,” Green added.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged people to keep up to date with tsunami warnings and stay safe.
“Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“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!”
Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed that tsunami waves reached the coastlines of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate prefectures.
It is expecting waves to rise as high as 9 feet, with the highest recorded so far being 4 feet at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture.
Tsunami waves reached the coastlines of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate in Japan
Workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant were evacuated. The plant suffered damage in the 2011 tsunami, leading to a major nuclear disaster.
Officials in California are also preparing for waves to hit, with helicopters flying over coastal areas in Los Angeles to broadcast sirens and warn of the tsunami advisory.
A wave of more than 1 foot has been recorded in Northern California near the Oregon border, data from the National Weather Service shows.
Waves of more than 9 feet are possible in Ecuador, the northwestern Hawaiian islands and Russia, the U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers says.
While some coasts of Chile, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Japan, and islands in the Pacific could see waves between 1 foot and 9 feet.
Australia, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand, Tonga, and Taiwan could potentially be hit by waves of up to 1 foot.
The earthquake off Russia's far east coast was one of the strongest ever recorded, and it appears to be the largest in the world in the past 14 years.
Several people were injured, according to Russian authorities, but they had not yet released details on the number of casualties.
In 2011, a 9.0 earthquake struck in Japan, causing a massive tsunami.
This is a developing story.