Tsunami waves reached the shores of Hawaii, California, and Washington early Wednesday morning following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula. While the quake triggered widespread alerts and evacuations across the Pacific, the impact in the United States remained relatively minimal.
In Hawaii, authorities issued emergency evacuation orders late Tuesday night, including the closure of Hilo International Airport to assist in clearing vulnerable coastal areas. Sirens sounded hourly, warning residents of possible waves as high as six feet.
By dawn, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had downgraded the alert to a tsunami advisory, and evacuees were allowed to return home. Hawaii Governor Josh Green confirmed that although “significant water” was observed, there was no reported damage on Oahu, calling the situation “a blessing” but urging residents to stay vigilant until the all-clear was given.
In Honolulu, onlookers gathered along beaches as smaller-than-expected waves arrived. Officials cautioned that secondary waves could still pose a threat and advised residents to stay away from the water.
Along the U.S. mainland, tsunami waves under four feet were recorded in parts of California and Washington. Minor wave activity was noted in Monterey and San Francisco shortly after midnight. Authorities issued advisories to avoid harbors and coastal areas, especially along a 40-mile stretch of Northern California coastline near the Oregon border, where a tsunami warning remained active.
Dr. Ariel Cohen of the National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned that despite reduced wave height, strong water surges continued to pose risks: “We are seeing a lot of surging of the waters,” he noted.
In Russia, the earthquake's epicenter experienced waves over 13 feet, with damage reported across Kamchatka. Roughly 3,000 residents were evacuated from vulnerable areas by emergency crews.
Japan also took swift action, evacuating nearly two million people and issuing tsunami advisories from Hokkaido to Okinawa. While many warnings have since been lifted, residents were advised to stay away from coastal and river areas due to the ongoing risk of residual waves.
Tsunami alerts were issued across much of the Pacific, including Guam, Samoa, the Philippines, New Zealand, and French Polynesia. Coastal regions of Central and South America — including Chile, Mexico, and Colombia — also issued advisories in anticipation of possible wave activity.
Initially recorded as an 8.0-magnitude quake, the U.S. Geological Survey later upgraded the tremor to 8.8. The quake struck at a depth of 12 miles, approximately 85 miles offshore. Multiple aftershocks, including magnitudes 6.3 and 6.9, followed in the region.
Despite the earthquake’s massive scale and the global tsunami alerts that followed, no casualties have been reported as of Wednesday afternoon. Authorities across the Pacific Rim continue to monitor conditions and are urging caution until all tsunami threats have fully subsided.
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