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Japan and US issue tsunami warnings after magnitude 8.8 quake Tsunami warning sparks evacuations in Japan and US after powerful Russia earthquake
(about 7 hours later)
Watch: Tsunami sirens blare in Honolulu Watch: Major earthquake off Russia triggers widespread tsunami warnings
Japan and the US have issued tsunami warnings after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Russia on Wednesday. A powerful earthquake off the coast of Russia has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, prompting emergency evacuations in Russia's far-east, northern Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast.
Official evacuation orders have been issued to people on the Pacific coast of Japan and in Hawaii. The 8.8 magnitude quake struck near Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula at 11:25 local time on Wednesday (23:00 GMT on Tuesday).
The first tsunami waves, at 30cm high, arrived in the northern coast of Japan's Hokkaido prefecture before 10.40 local time (02.40 BST), Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. Waves at 40cm high have been observed in Tokachi, in Hokkaido. It is one of the 10 most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, the US Geological Survey said. However there have been no initial reports of severe damage or injury.
US authorities have issued a tsunami warning for Hawaii, which warns it could face "destructive" 3-meter high waves. A tsunami watch has been issued for Alaska. In Hawaii, where thousands of people along the coast fled for higher ground, the warnings were downgraded, and residents were allowed to return home - although warned to remain cautious.
Waves 1-3 meters (3.3 to 10 feet) high could threaten the US island territory of Guam, according to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which is based in Honolulu. A tsunami is a series of powerful waves and can cause significant damage. In Russia, the tremor triggered tsunami waves of up to 5m (16ft) in some areas. Pictures showed waves surging through the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, home to around 2,000 people, but no serious injuries or damage has been reported.
The earthquake magnitude was revised to 8.8 after an earlier measurement of 8.7. The Sakhalin region has declared a state of emergency in the northern Kuril islands, where the power grid was shut down after it was damaged by the quake.
The Japanese government has issued an evacuation order to people on the Pacific coast, saying: "Damage due to tsunami waves is expected. Evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas to a safer place such as high ground or an evacuation building. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov described it as the most powerful earthquake the region has experienced in decades. At least six aftershocks have followed, including one measuring 6.9.
"Tsunami waves are expected to hit repeatedly. Do not leave safe ground until the warning is lifted," it added. The tsunami impact has extended across the Pacific.
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said authorities were "working to access the situation", adding that any relief efforts will "put human lives first". Hawaiians cram roads away from coasts as waves arrive
There was no confirmation of any damage so far, Ishiba said. Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant evacuated
Japan Weather Agency's tsunami warning expects waves of up to 3 meters (10 feet) to reach large coastal areas in Japan. What we know as tsunami alerts issued
In Hawaii, officials ordered an "immediate evacuation" of large parts the island Oahu, including the state capital Honolulu. In Japan, waves of up to 1.3m (4ft) were seen in the north-eastern Iwate prefecture, on the main island of Honshu. It prompted the government to issue evacuation orders to nearly two million people along the Pacific coast. Many evacuated by car or on foot to higher ground.
"Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves are expected," Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management says in alerts on social media. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said there was no confirmation of any damage so far.
The US tsunami warning system has also issued tsunami advisory for California, Oregon and Washington states. Officials in Hawaii initially ordered an "immediate evacuation" of large parts the island of Oahu, including the state capital Honolulu.
According to the US National Weather Service the first waves are expected to arrive at California at around 11.50pm local time (7.50am BST). Multiple waves are expected, lasting for 10 to 36 hours, it added. Governor Josh Green told people in low-lying areas to stay calm and move to higher ground. Not holding back, he warned residents: "It is not a regular wave. It will actually kill you if you get hit by a tsunami."
Residents in California have received official SMS alerts warning them to avoid going to the coast and beaches, while stressing that there is no evacuation. Hours after the initial quake, waves of up to 1.2m (4ft) hit Oahu, and bigger ones of 5.7ft were recorded on Maui.
Speaking to the BBC's Newsday programme, Helen Janiszewski, Assistant Professor, Geophysics and Tectonics Division at the University of Hawaii said that the earthquake ranked among the ten most severe in recorded history. But two hours later the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) downgraded the tsunami warning for Hawaii to an advisory level. The advisory indicates that there is the potential for strong waves, minor flooding and strong currents - but a major tsunami is no longer expected.
According to the US Geological Survey, at magnitude 8.8 it was tied at the sixth most severe quake in history, with the 2010 earthquake in Biobío, Chile, and the 1906 earthquake in Esmeraldas, Ecuador. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency director, Stephen Logan, said those evacuated may now return home but advised residents to remain cautious, drive slowly, and watch for flooding.
California residents receive an SMS alert warning of tsunami threats. On the US mainland, the PTWC also issued tsunami advisory for California, Oregon, Alaska and Washington.
A tsunami with a wave height of 3-4 meters was recorded in parts of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in its Far East, Russian officials said. The tsunami has reached the coast of California, the US National Weather Service reported, with waves at Arena Cove and Monterey, and rolling further south.
The tsunami warning was triggered by a powerful earthquake which struck about 126km (78 miles) from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, at a depth of 18 kilometres, according to the United States Geological Survey. Californians received SMS alerts warning them to avoid going to the coast and beaches, while stressing that there is no evacuation
In Russia, the tremor generated a tsunami of 3-4 metres in Kamchatka, according to Sergei Lebedev, the regional minister for emergency situations. British Columbia, in Canada, has issued a tsunami advisory for most coastal areas, where residents have been told to avoid the ocean and await the all-clear.
There were no injuries, but a kindergarten was damaged, according to preliminary information, Lebedev added. In the South Pacific, tsunami threat alerts were issued for Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and coastal residents have been told to evacuate to higher ground.
"Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. In China, authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for Zhejiang Province and Shanghai, but that alert has now been lifted, with no reported damage.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Taiwan's tsunami warning, however, remains in place and coastal residents have been told to remain cautious.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts. Smaller tsunami wave activity between 1m-3m is possible along some coasts of Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Australia, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand and Tonga.
In Peru, officials have issued a tsunami warning and are keeping "constant surveillance" on the situation.
The tsunami warning was triggered by a powerful earthquake which struck about 126km (78 miles) from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, at a depth of 18km, the United States Geological Survey reported.
The agency said that the tremor was tied as the sixth most severe quake in history, with the 2010 earthquake in Biobío, Chile, and the 1906 earthquake in Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
Are you in any of the affective areas? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch.