British Columbians told to avoid coast after Russia quake triggers tsunami advisory
WICKANINISH BEACH, B.C. — British Columbians are being urged to stay away from coastal areas that remain under a tsunami advisory, after one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded triggered warnings and alerts around the Pacific.
Article content
The District of Tofino says beaches are closed, while the province's emergency information agency says people in areas covered by the advisory should stay away from shorelines, with strong waves and currents possible.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Emergency Info BC had said tsunami waves of less than 30 centimetres were expected to hit Tofino around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, but there was no immediate confirmation of their arrival that coincided with a low tide.
Article content
Article content
However, at 1:20 a.m. local time, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration updated its tsunami bulletin to include regional observations. For British Columbia, that included an 'observed maximum tsunami height' of six centimetres at Langara Island, 27 centimetres at Winter Harbour, 21 centimetres at Tofino and nine centimetres at Bamfield.
Article content
The quake that hit off the coast of southeastern Russia on Tuesday had a preliminary magnitude of 8.8, which would make it the world's strongest quake since 2011.
Article content
The tsunami advisory in B.C. covers the North Coast and Haida Gwaii, the Central Coast and northeastern Vancouver Island, the island's west coast and the Juan de Fuca Strait from the Jordan River area to Greater Victoria, including the Saanich Peninsula.
Article content
Article content
Signs alerting people about the tsunami advisory were posted at Wickaninish Beach in Pacific Rim National Park, southeast of Tofino, but people continued to take in Tuesday's sunset, although the parking lot was mostly empty.
Article content
Article content
Campers at the JX Surf Shop campground between Tofino and Ucluelet on Vancouver Island were glued to their phones overnight searching for the news about the tsunami. However, most appeared to be staying put for the night.
Article content
But officials urged caution, saying bigger waves could come later, with the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Centre saying waves higher than three metres were possible in parts of Hawaii, Ecuador and Russia.
Article content
Damage and evacuations were reported in the Russian regions nearest the quake's epicentre on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
26 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Parts of northern Ontario under air quality statement as smoke from wildfires persists
A stretch of northern Ontario remains under a special air quality statement today amid smoke from wildfires burning in parts of the country. The special statement for southern parts of the province, including the Toronto area, lifted this morning as conditions there improved. Environment Canada says smoke from forest fires can cause reduced air quality and visibility that can fluctuate throughout the day. It says northern parts of the province, including Pikangikum and Sandy Lake First Nations, are under air quality statements or warnings due to the smoke. The weather agency says reduced air quality can cause mild eye, nose and throat irritation. More serious but less common symptoms include chest pains and a severe cough. Environment Canada is advising people to limit their time outdoors and consider postponing sports or other outdoor activities.
CTV News
36 minutes ago
- CTV News
Colleen Bready's Forecast: Smokiest year on record in Manitoba
Colleen Bready has your current conditions and updated weather forecast for August 5, 2025. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual It is a sobering statistic, but 2025 is now the smokiest year on record in Winnipeg. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says 306 hours of smoke were observed in the city as of early Tuesday morning, eclipsing the longstanding previous record of 304 hours set in 1961. The weather agency considers wildfire season to last from April 1 to October 31 annually and noted how early the record was set this year with the better part of three months left. The third smokiest year on record in Winnipeg was 2021, with 262 hours of smoke observed. That said, smoke will be replaced with showers and potentially more severe weather on Tuesday in southern Manitoba. ECCC issued a severe thunderstorm watch early Tuesday afternoon for the southwest, including Brandon and Dauphin. According to the weather agency, an approaching trough of low pressure is triggering thunderstorms in eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba that could become severe this afternoon and evening. Showers are expected to reach Winnipeg and the southeast as early as Tuesday evening. Anywhere from 5 to 15 mm of precipitation is possible tonight, with forecast amounts for Winnipeg at the lower end. Late-night and overnight thunderstorms are also possible. Meanwhile, wildfire smoke continues to plague other regions in the province, with an air quality warning remaining in effect for all of northern Manitoba, eastern areas, and into parts of northwestern Ontario.
CTV News
36 minutes ago
- CTV News
Conditions cool after B.C. wildfires double in a week with 67,000 lighting strikes
The number of wildfires burning in British Columbia has more than doubled in the past week after a stretch of hot, dry weather and thunderstorms that produced more than 67,000 lightning strikes. There are more than 130 active fires in B.C., up from about 60 a week ago, though the BC Wildfire Service says cooler temperatures, scattered showers and a decrease in thunderstorm activity would help firefighting efforts this week. There is one so-called wildfire of note, the Wesley Ridge blaze discovered last Thursday near Cathedral Grove, a renowned old-growth forest east of Port Alberni. The out-of-control blaze spans just over five square kilometres, with the latest update from the wildfire service saying helicopters equipped with night-vision technology worked overnight to dump water on hot spots. The service says crews made 'good progress' on Monday improving containment lines to protect homes and critical infrastructure along Highway 4. It says there are 164 firefighters assigned to the Wesley Ridge blaze, along with structure protection crews, eight helicopters and other aircraft. About 40 wildfires are classified as burning out of control across B.C., with Environment Canada issuing a series of smoke-related air quality statements for parts of the Cariboo, Okanagan, Fraser Canyon, Prince George and South Thompson regions, along with parts of eastern Vancouver Island. The 14-square-kilometre Cantilever Bar fire continues to burn out of control on the west side of the Fraser River about 10 kilometres south of Lytton. The wildfire service says the blaze is 'highly visible' from Highway 1. An update posted Tuesday says fire activity increased the day before, but smoke was coming from within the fire perimeter and crews did not see any new growth. The blaze has prompted evacuation orders and alerts by the Thompson Nicola Regional District and the Lytton, Skuppah and Siska First Nations. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025.
