Tsunami waves hit the shores of Hawaii, California, and Washington on Wednesday morning after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. While alerts prompted evacuations and emergency measures throughout the Pacific, the effects in the United States were largely minimal.
Authorities in Hawaii issued urgent evacuation orders late Tuesday night, shutting down 'Hilo International Airport' to assist residents in leaving low-lying coastal areas. Sirens blared every hour to alert the public as state and local officials cautioned about possible waves reaching heights of six feet.
By early Wednesday morning, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center downgraded the alert to a tsunami advisory, allowing those who had evacuated to return home. Governor Josh Green confirmed that while “significant water” was recorded, Oahu experienced no reported damage. He described the lack of destruction as “a blessing,” but advised continued vigilance until an official all-clear was given.
Footage from Honolulu depicted residents congregating at the shoreline, cheering as smaller-than-anticipated waves rolled in. Nevertheless, officials cautioned that subsequent waves could be larger and more perilous, urging people not to return to the beaches too soon.
On the U.S. mainland, tsunami waves measuring under four feet reached the coastal areas of California and Washington.
Monterey and San Francisco experienced minor wave activity shortly after midnight, leading to advisories against entering harbors and west-facing beaches. A tsunami warning remained in effect for a 40-mile stretch of Northern California coastline near the Oregon border.
In Russia, where the earthquake struck hardest, tsunami waves exceeding 13 feet were observed, causing damage in various parts of Kamchatka. Emergency teams successfully evacuated around 3,000 individuals from the impacted areas.
In Japan, nearly two million residents were also evacuated, with tsunami advisories still in effect from Hokkaido to Okinawa. While many regions have lifted initial warnings, locals are advised to steer clear of coastal areas and river mouths due to the potential for lingering waves.
Tsunami alerts were also issued across the Pacific, affecting Guam, Samoa, the Philippines, New Zealand, and French Polynesia, among others. Coastal authorities in Central and South America, including Chile, Mexico, and Colombia, have issued warnings or advisories in preparation for possible wave activity.
The earthquake, initially reported as a magnitude of 8.0, was later upgraded to 8.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Aftershocks measuring 6.3 and 6.9 were detected in the Kamchatka region. The quake occurred at a depth of 12 miles, roughly 85 miles offshore.Despite the massive scale of the earthquake and the extensive tsunami alert system activated worldwide, no fatalities have been reported as of Wednesday morning. Emergency officials in the affected areas are actively monitoring wave activity and advising caution until the situation stabilizes.