A massive earthquake of 8.8 hit the coast of Russia on Tuesday, arousing warnings from tsunami – and evacuations from coastal areas – in Hawaii and alerts for other areas of the American West Coast.
The National Weather Service said in an X article just after 7 pm local time – 1 hour he – that the waves of tsunami “were recently detected in Haleiwa”.
In a message published on social networks, President Donald Trump urged people to “stay strong and stay safe” and monitor updates on the online dashboard tsunami.gov.
In Hawaii, the National Weather Service called for an “urgent action” to protect lives and goods.
The officials urged residents to leave the beaches and evacuate the low areas for higher soil or to take refuge at least on the fourth floor of a building. The sirens resounded through the Hawaii Islands 10 minutes after each hour for the three hours preceding the expected impact as part of an alert system on the scale of the state.
The first waves of tsunami had to reach Hawaii just after 7:15 p.m. local time – or 1h15 he. The initial waves were expected on the coast of Kauai, with effects on the island of Hawaii about 20-30 minutes later.
Speaking at a press conference less than an hour before the waves had to strike, said the governor of Hawaii, Josh Green – on the basis of the indications of other areas of the Pacific, the waves had already passed – the managers in Hawaii were prepared for a “significant wave” measuring 6 feet in total, from the peak to the checkout. “It means a 3 -foot wave on the top of the ocean,” said Green.
All the banks of the island are threatened because the waves of tsunami wrap around the islands, officials said.
“The danger can continue for many hours after the initial wave as the following waves arrive. The heights of Tsunami cannot be predicted and the first wave may not be the most important,” said National Weather Service in an alert.
“It is not only a wave of 3 feet, it is an energetic wall of water,” said the governor, adding that it is possible that such a wave can shoot utility posts and leave debris scattered in his wake.
An 8.7 amplitude earthquake near Russia encourages tsunami alerts along the west coast, in Alaska and Hawaii.
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In the midst of the previous reports of the traffic crampon while the residents evacuated the shore, the governor said that he thought that there was a lot of time for people to reach higher ground and that it seemed that traffic was already relaxed.
In an interview with ABC Honolulu Affiliate Kitv, the mayor of Honolulu, Rick Bangiardi, urged residents to move to higher land.
“We need people to remain calm but also to act accordingly. If you can go to higher ground if you are in a low area, please do it.” He urged caution on the roads in the middle of the “bumper bumper circulation” during the evacuations.
Tsunami alerts for the American West Coast – and elsewhere in the world
Following the earthquake, a tsunami warning was also issued for part of the Alaska and northern California, Cape Mendocino – parts of the Alaska islands – located about 200 miles north of California – to the Oregon border. The rest of the Californian coast, as well as Oregon and Washington, are under an opinion of tsunami, while the threat is being evaluated.
The American territories of Guam and the American Samoa are also under an opinion of tsunami, according to the USGS.
The intense earthquake occurred about 85 miles from the east coast of the Russian Kamchatka peninsula with a depth of almost 12 miles, according to US Geological Survey. It was one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded by the agency, which improved its extent of the initial reports of 8.0 and 8.7.
Magnitude 6.3 and 6.9 replicas was also reported in the region, according to the USGS.
An opinion was also issued for the Japanese regions of the Pacific coast, from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
The Japanese meteorological agency warned that a tsunami of about 1 meter (3 feet) high should reach Hokkaido in the north around 10:00 am local time with waves later in the day along the parts of eastern Honshu and Kyushu in the south.
People are warned to stay away from the coast and the river mouths and not to approach water to observe.
Ecuador and Chile are also under tsunami alerts, according to local officials.
A tsunami warning means that a tsunami that could cause generalized floods and powerful currents is expected. A tsunami watch means that a distant earthquake has occurred and a tsunami is possible.
Bonnie McLean, ABC News, William Gretsky, Anthony Trotter and Mireya Villarreal contributed to this report.
It is a story in development. Please check the updates.
