The tsunami advisory for Hawaii has been lifted after a massive earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast put the region on high alert. Tsunami warnings for the US coastline and Japan were downgraded to advisories earlier.
Waves persist. A National Weather Service official urged people in the affected areas to stay cautious over the next 24 hours, as waves remain “pretty stubbornly persistent.” The tsunami’s first waves hit Japan, where nearly 2 million people were under evacuation advisories, and Russia. Overnight waves then reached US shores — including parts of Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.
Historic quake. The massive 8.8 magnitude quake is tied for the sixth strongest ever recorded. There were no casualties in Russia, the Kremlin said.
The first waves have hit Hawaii as it braces for potential tsunami waves of up to 10 feet above normal levels – and other countries around the Pacific are getting ready too, with some already feeling the impacts.
In Russia, the earthquake off the country’s east coast damaged some buildings including a kindergarten that collapsed – though no injuries were reported. Tsunami waves began arriving soon after, with several hitting the Severo-Kurilsk district on the southern tip of the country’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
The district has declared a state of emergency, according to state media TASS, citing authorities. Videos show water rushing between buildings, damaging industrial infrastructure and sweeping away large debris.
In Japan, tsunami waves are already hitting many parts of the east coast, from the northernmost island of Hokkaido to much of the main island Honshu – including near the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. So far, the waves are measuring up to 60 centimeters – well below the initially forecast 3 meters.
More than 1.9 million people across 21 prefectures are under localized evacuation advisories, with photos showing some in Hokkaido taking shelter on a building rooftop.
Elsewhere around the Pacific, many other places have also issued tsunami advisories, warnings and watches – including the Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Taiwan.
The state of Hawaii, parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and a section of Northern California are currently under tsunami warning – the most severe alert – while the rest of the US West Coast is under a less severe tsunami advisory.
The first tsunami waves have already hit Alaska and waves are starting to hit Hawaii now.
The rest of the Western US states are bracing for impact with waves expected in the coming hours. Here are the estimated arrival times from the US Tsunami Warning Center:
Oregon and Washington arrivals are expected to begin round 11:35 p.m. PT.
California arrivals are expected to begin around 11:50 p.m. PT, reaching San Francisco Bay around 12:40 a.m. PT and Los Angeles Harbor around 1:00 a.m. PT.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday issued an evacuation warning to all people living on vessels in Moss Landing, a popular spot for surfing and tourists.
The Sheriff’s Office warned that tsunami waves are expected to reach the Monterey County coastline by 12:15 a.m. Pacific Time (3:15 a.m. ET).
“We are recommending that these individuals seek other lodging arrangements for the duration of the tsunami advisory for California Coastal counties,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote on X.
Earlier this evening, the United States Coast Guard warned that strong currents could pose a risk to boats and coastal infrastructure, and that while widespread flooding is not expected, damage within harbors is possible.
