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| Hawaii tsunami warning downgraded and no major damage after first waves hit islands | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia triggers tsunami alerts across Pacific including US coast and Japan | |
| Tsunami warning live updates | Tsunami warning live updates |
| A major tsunami is not expected to strike Hawaii, a Pacific monitoring agency has said, after the first waves hit the islands following a powerful magnitude-8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia’s eastern coast. | |
| The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, operated by the US National Weather Service, said in an update that “based on all available data”, a major tsunami was not expected, although it warned all coasts could remain “a hazard to swimmers and boaters”, including people near the shore. | |
| Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency said evacuation orders had been lifted and there were no reports of major damage. | |
| The highest recorded waves in Hawaii were earlier reported as close to 1.8 metres (6ft). Tsunami warning sirens had sounded in Honolulu on Wednesday as the emergency department called for the evacuation of some coastal areas in preparation. | |
| The coastguard had also issued an advisory for all boats, saying they should leave port before the tsunami hit, and airports were briefly shut before being reopened. | |
| 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 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 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 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 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. | 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, Hawaii governor Josh 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report | The Associated Press contributed to this report |