Coastal Nations on High Alert as Waves Reach Hawaii, Evacuations Ordered in Japan and China
Nairobi, Kenya- A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean, prompting evacuations, emergency broadcasts, and global monitoring from Hawaii to Japan, China, and South America.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System was among the first to sound the alarm following the shallow quake, warning that waves exceeding three meters (10 feet) could strike parts of Russia, northern Hawaii, and Ecuador.
Additional regions, including Chile, Japan, the Solomon Islands, and Costa Rica, were told to prepare for waves between one and three meters, while lesser swells were expected along the shores of Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Colombia, Tonga, and Taiwan.
Waves Hit Hawaii, Evacuations Underway
On the Hawaiian island of Maui, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed a wave of 5.7 feet (1.74 meters) at Kahului, while Hilo on the Big Island recorded a 4.9-foot (1.5 meters) surge.
As the waves began to roll in, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi urged residents to move to higher ground or shelter above the fourth floor in high-rise buildings:
“Please take this very seriously. Get yourself as high as you possibly can,” he said, although he noted there had not yet been “a wave of consequence.”
Live feeds from Waikiki Beach and Hanalei Bay showed minimal disturbance initially, but the alert remained active. The U.S. Coast Guard ordered all vessels to leave harbors as a precaution.
1.9 Million Under Evacuation in Japan
In Japan, where memories of the 2011 tsunami disaster that killed over 15,000 people remain fresh, authorities placed 1.9 million residents under evacuation orders across coastal areas.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency reported three tsunami waves had already been recorded, the largest reaching 60 cm (24 inches).
Workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant were temporarily evacuated, and Nissan Motor Co. suspended operations at some facilities to ensure safety.
Footage aired by NHK showed residents sheltering on rooftops in Hokkaido, while fishing boats rushed from harbors to avoid incoming waves.
In China, authorities issued tsunami alerts for Zhejiang province and Shanghai, warning of expected waves reaching up to one meter.
Across the Pacific, Peru’s emergency services declared a tsunami alert and placed their coastal monitoring units on “constant surveillance” to track ocean activity.
Global Advisories in Effect
The U.S. National Weather Service advised residents along the U.S. West Coast to avoid beaches, harbors, and marinas, despite not being under direct threat from larger waves.
Elsewhere, Ecuador, Chile, Costa Rica, and Taiwan issued alerts or began precautionary evacuations in anticipation of rising sea levels. Australia and New Zealand urged coastal residents to remain vigilant, with tides expected to vary.
Meanwhile, the U.S. President, Donald Trump, confirmed: “A Tsunami Warning is in effect for Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in place for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States.”
