Tsunami warnings across Pacific as first waves hit Hawaii after earthquake off Russia

The Guardian

a day ago

The first waves have hit Hawaii, the highest recorded so far being close to 1.8 metres (6ft), after a powerful magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka peninsula and triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
Tsunami warning sirens sounded in Honolulu on Wednesday as the emergency department called for the evacuation of some coastal areas in preparation. 'Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected,' the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management had said on X.
The coastguard issued an advisory for all boats, saying they should leave port before the tsunami hit.
The first waves hit the islands shortly after 8pm, with a gauge at Hanalei recording a wave height of a metre (3ft) above normal sea level. The Haleiwa gauge, on Oahu's North Shore, recorded a tsunami amplitude of 1.2 metres (4ft) above normal sea level. Later readings put waves as high as 1.7 metres (5.7ft) above normal sea level.
The height of tsunami waves is only one factor in their destructiveness, with much depending on their speed and volume of moving water, as well as the shape of the shoreline.
The governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, said all flights in and out of Maui had been cancelled but that so far there had not been a wave of consequence on the islands.
The massive quake struck on Wednesday morning in Russia, generating a tsunami of up to 4 metres (13ft) on the country's east coast, damaging buildings and prompting evacuation warnings in the region and across most of Japan's east coast, officials said.
The US tsunami warning system issued a warning of 'hazardous tsunami waves' and a watch was also in effect for the US island territory of Guam and other islands of Micronesia.
Earlier in the day, Green said data from Midway Atoll, between Japan and Hawaii, measured tsunami waves from peak to trough of almost 2 metres.
Green said Black Hawk helicopters had been activated and high-water vehicles were ready to go in case authorities need to rescue people. 'But please do not put yourself in harm's way,' he added.
Cars jammed streets and highways in Honolulu as the tsunami alerts coincided with the Tuesday afternoon rush hour. Warning sirens blared as people moved to higher ground. Hawaii schools cancelled after-school and evening activities.
There were long lines at gas stations near downtown Honolulu, with standstill traffic even in areas away from the shoreline.
The San Francisco department of emergency management issued a warning and said it was working with public safety agencies to determine whether evacuation of coastal areas would be necessary.
In Huntington Beach, California, lifeguards and police were asking people to leave the beaches, which would remain closed while the tsunami warning was in effect and the small northern California community of Crescent City turned on its tsunami sirens to warn residents about possible waves.
An up-to-date map of tsunami warnings, advisories, and watches can be found on a map at the US tsunami warning system's website. As of 7pm PT, the entire western seaboard of the US and British Columbia was under a 'tsunami advisory', which instructs residents to 'stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways', and to watch for instructions from local authorities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report