Latest news with #warning
New York Times
26 minutes ago
- Climate
- New York Times
What to Know About the Pacific Tsunami
From Japan to Hawaii and California, people were tracking the effects of a tsunami after a powerful earthquake struck overnight in the North Pacific off the coast of Russia's Far East. Hawaii and parts of California spent hours under a tsunami warning, with officials urging residents to stay away from shorelines and seek shelter on higher ground. The waves first hit California around 1 a.m. local time. By Wednesday morning, many official tsunami warnings had been downgraded to advisories, with minimal damage and no reported deaths. Still, officials warned people to stay away from beaches and out of the water as Hawaii and parts of the California coast braced for what could be 24 hours of surging waves and tidal swells. Here's what to know: Where has the tsunami hit and what's next? Waves began arriving in Hawaii around 7:30 p.m. local time Tuesday evening, and first hit the coasts of Northern California and Washington State around 1 a.m. local time. A 3.6-foot wave was recorded in Crescent City, Calif., overnight, and a 5.7-foot wave reached Maui, Hawaii, late on Tuesday, the tallest recorded so far for this tsunami. Smaller surges hit parts of Alaska, which measured tsunami waves around a foot tall on Tuesday evening. Many beaches and shorelines across those areas were closed, and officials warned residents not to be lured into a false sense of security. What triggered this tsunami? An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's eastern coast in shallow waters of the North Pacific on Tuesday morning, causing significant aftershocks and damage to structures in Russia, and setting off a ripple of tsunami warnings from Japan to the California coast, as well as Central and Latin America. If the quake's magnitude is confirmed by scientists, it will be one of the largest ever recorded. What damage has the tsunami caused? As of early Wednesday morning Pacific time, damage in the United States was minimal after the first waves arrived in Hawaii and across the West Coast. In Hawaii, a tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory after officials said the biggest waves had likely passed and major flooding was not likely. In Oregon and California, officials urged residents to stay vigilant even as warnings were downgraded, saying that dangerous currents could still occur in the water, and waves could continue to surge through the night. In Russia, the earthquake damaged structures and caused cliff faces to collapse into the sea. Videos from the area showed homes and other structures shaking violently and buildings awash in seawater. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths caused by the tsunami so far. What should I do to prepare for a tsunami? The U.S. government provides tips for preparing for tsunamis. Among them: Know your community's evacuation plans and practice them ahead of time. Maps of tsunami inundation zones and evacuation routes that can guide your planning may be available for your area. At home and in other places where you spend time, 'you have to know your threat,' said Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, a manager in the Caribbean office of the International Tsunami Information Center. Dave Snider, a tsunami warning coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, advised having 'multiple ways to receive emergency information.' In the United States, you may be able to receive emergency alerts, including information about tsunamis, through an app from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said. Alerts may also be available locally or on NOAA Weather Radio. What do I do during an earthquake or tsunami? During an earthquake, drop to the ground, cover your body to prevent injuries (by crawling under a table, for example) and hold on, according to the Earthquake Country Alliance. If you are notified that an earthquake may have set off a tsunami in your area, heed the instructions you are given. Move as high and as far inland as you can. But don't wait around for a notification if you notice something is amiss — even a couple of minutes can make a life-or-death difference, Ms. von Hillebrandt-Andrade said. 'You have to recognize the natural warning signs,' she said. 'If you feel an earthquake that is so strong that you can't stay on your feet and you live in a coastal area, you have to self-evacuate.'
News24
an hour ago
- Climate
- News24
French Polynesia authorities warn of tsunami waves up to 4m high after quake
A large earthquake struck Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. French Polynesia authorities warned of tsunami waves up to 4m high. Japan downgraded some tsunami alerts. Authorities in French Polynesia warned the population of several of the Marquesas Islands to expect tsunami waves up to 4m high in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a huge quake off Russia's Far east. They said the waves would reach the islands of Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa at 00:57 local time (10:27 GMT). Other islands in the Marquesas were expected to experience wave heights between 0.60m and 0.90m, the local government also said. The warnings follow a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. 'Our armed forces in French Polynesia are on alert as a precautionary measure, to be ready to assist our fellow citizens and state services in potential search and rescue operations or medical evacuations,' French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on the social media platform X. Residents were urged to move to higher ground and follow official instructions, including securing boats or moving them away from the shore. AFP reported that Japan's weather agency on Wednesday evening downgraded tsunami alerts issued for a wide swath of the archipelago following the earthquake, while keeping warnings unchanged for its northern areas. Warnings for eastern Japan's Ibaraki region all the way down to the southern Wakayama region have now been downgraded to 'advisories', Japan's weather agency said on its website. In Severo-Kurilsk, a Russian town of about 2 000 people some 350km southwest of the earthquake's epicentre, tsunami waves crashed through the port area and submerged the local fishing plant, according to authorities. The town lies on the northern Kuril island of Paramushir, just south of the Kamchatka peninsula. The waves, which were up to 4m high in some areas, reached as far as the town's World War II monument about 400m from the shoreline, according to Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov. The Marquesas Islands, among the most remote in the world, have a population of approximately 9 500, according to a 2022 census. The population is predominantly of Polynesian descent, alongside French and other immigrant communities. The largest settlements are Taiohae on Nuku Hiva and Atuona on Hiva Oa. Other archipelagos in French Polynesia may be affected by waves less than 30cm high, which do not require evacuation or sheltering, local authorities said. French Polynesia covers 4 200km2 of the Pacific Ocean. Its five archipelagos comprise 118 islands.
The Australian
an hour ago
- Climate
- The Australian
Australia added to tsunami advisory list after 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Russian coast
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has added Australia to its advisory after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Russia. The earthquake hit east-southeast of Kamchatka in Russia's east about 9.24pm AEST, triggering tsunami warnings across the globe. The warnings have extended to Japan, Hawaii, parts of the west coast of North and South America, Alaska, parts of South East Asia, Guam and all Pacific Islands. The centre has also issued a warning to Australia, adding that waves reaching 0.3 to 1m are possible along the coast. A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said there was no tsunami threat to the country. 'The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre have assessed the event in the Pacific and there is no threat current to the Australian mainland and islands,' they told NewsWire. 'The JATWC will continue to monitor and assess the situation as it evolves.' New Zealand has issued warnings to residents living in coastal areas, advising them to steer clear of beaches and the shore. The National Emergency Management Agency said there was no reason to evacuate unless ordered to do so by authorities. Affected areas include the West Coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Raglan, including the West Coast of Auckland and Manukau Harbour, and from Hawera to Whanganui. Other areas affected by the threat include the east and south coasts of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Makara including Whangarei, Great Barrier Island, the east coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitemata Harbour, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne, Napier, Lake Ferry, the Wellington south coast and Wellington Harbour. NewsWire The home where Erin Patterson served her notorious mushroom lunch that left three of her relatives dead is now subject to a restraining order. NewsWire Developer and former Melbourne Storm player Tye Alroe has died while exercising at a Gold Coast gym.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's $14 million Montecito mansion caught up in tsunami warning zone
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's $14 million Montecito mansion has been marked in a tsunami warning after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia last night. The couple, who left the UK for California in January 2020, live with their young children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, in the coastal town of Montecito, situated in Santa Barbara County. The west coast state of California, including Santa Barbara County - and, therefore, the A-list enclave of Montecito - fell under the US National Tsunami Warning Center's tsunami advisory issued on Tuesday night. Warning against swimming in the sea or visiting beaches, those living in Harry and Meghan's community were told that the risk 'may continue for several hours after the initial wave'. It was this morning reported that the first waves sparked by the huge earthquake reached the shores of the US states of California and Hawaii. Americans living along the Pacific were told to move to higher ground after the massive earthquake off Russia 's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami alerts across Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast. Evacuation orders were issued for low-lying areas of Hawaii overnight, with sirens blaring across parts of Oahu and residents seen scrambling to pack bags and flee inland. Many residents raced for higher ground to stay safe as the first tsunami waves hit Hawaii on Wednesday morning. The rush has triggered huge traffic jams stretching many miles. Earlier this year, during January's California wildfires, the home of Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, came under a similar directive. On January 14, it was reported the couple and their two children were on the cusp of evacuation as the apocalyptic fires that had ravaged Los Angeles headed towards their Montecito mansion. Montecito was placed under a red flag warning as strong Santa Ana winds - branded the Devil Winds - were expected to drive 'explosive fire growth' bring an increased threat of more blazes across the greater LA region. Montecito Fire warned that the strong winds could cause fires to 'grow rapidly' and 'behave erratically', and told residents to be 'ready to evacuate'. Harry and Meghan purchased their Montecito mansion for $14.65 million (£10.92m) in the summer of 2020, just a few months after they left the UK for America. The tsunami warning comes as emergency management officials in Alaska warned that powerful waves could strike within hours, urging coastal communities to stay alert. In California, Oregon and Washington, beachgoers were told to stay out of the water as tsunami watches stretched across thousands of miles of coastline. Some residents rushed to buy fuel, food and bottled water, fearing a repeat of previous disasters. Others remained unfazed, with videos circulating online of people refusing to leave their homes or gathering to watch the waves roll in. In one TikTok video, a user shares her panic as sirens blare in the background. With a worried look on her face, Shelbykblackburn says: 'I'm shaking right now. A warning has officially gone off. 'We just got a notification that there's a tsunami threat. The boats - looks like they're turning around and coming back in. 'There are a lot of people out on their background looking and running upstairs. This just got really scary.' Another user, Holistic Alexandra, appears close to tears and captions her video: 'Guys, they just turned on the tsunami alarms, and I got another alert on my phone and they said there's going to be a direct hit to Hanalei in Kauai.' In a follow-up clip, Shelbykblackburn films herself with huge skyscrapers in the background. Cheers can be heard echoing from nearby buildings. She says: 'Everybody is cheering and screaming. I don't know if that means it's about to hit, if they see something, but I don't see anything. 'Maybe it's just kind of like a we are all in this together situation. There're cell phones flashing.' In a separate video, a man on a balcony joins in the cheers, seemingly unconcerned about the looming threat. He is one of many who appear unbothered by the danger. The man smiles into the camera and says he is going towards the tsunami to go fishing and swimming On TikTok, a man using the name Go_BigorGo_HomeTyler is seen smiling on a boat. He tells the camera: 'Honestly, I knew I was crazy. My family knows I'm crazy, but I'm on some next-level s*** I never actually thought I'd be doing. 'After our tsunami warning that I just posted about over on Big Island, that should be hitting us in two hours, I'm currently driving towards it on a boat. Going straight at it. Straight at the girl.' He adds: 'We're gonna go surf that wave. I always joked about it, and now, the law of attraction. It's real. It's so funny.' He also says he plans to go fishing while at sea, and also shows a man casually jumping into the ocean before promising viewers updates from his expedition. In a second video, he shows off a sunset from the water. 'So guys, here's the sunset before the storm. Absolutely beautiful. We are exactly 15 to 20 minutes from the first wave,' he says. Over on X, formerly Twitter, one user filmed a man surfing in the ocean despite the warnings. The surfer can be seen calmly lying on his board as he paddles out into the waves. Elsewhere, groups of people gathered for a 'tsunami watch party' from what they claimed was a safe distance. Videos show them filming the horizon and waiting for the first waves to hit, with some bringing sweets and snacks to mark the occasion. Another TikTok user, posting under the name firstgenamericanyt, filmed himself still in the water after officials urged people to stay away. 'The waves are definitely getting bigger than they were a few minutes ago,' he says. 'You can look it up. It's super legit. I pray it doesn't happen. Oh my God.' Officials across the U.S. are urging residents in coastal areas to take the tsunami threat seriously and follow evacuation orders immediately. The warning comes as many recall the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia. The disaster killed more than 230,000 people across 14 countries, with waves reaching up to 100 feet high and entire towns swept away in minutes. That tsunami struck with little warning, catching holidaymakers and locals off guard as waves tore through coastlines in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Reuters
French Pacific Marquesas islands warned of imminent 4-metre tsunami waves
PARIS, July 30 (Reuters) - Authorities in French Polynesia warned the population of several of the Marquesas Islands to expect tsunami waves up to 4 metres high in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a huge quake off Russia's Far east. They said the waves would reach the islands of Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa at 00:57 a.m. local time (1027 GMT). Other islands in the Marquesas are expected to experience wave heights between 0.60 m and 0.90 m, the local government said.
