A powerful earthquake in Russia's Far East has triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific, including Hawaii and Japan. The earthquake, reported to be magnitude 8.7, generated waves that prompted evacuation warnings and emergency measures.
Hawaii Braces for Impact
Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged residents near coastal areas to evacuate as a 3-foot wave was expected to hit the islands. The state activated its emergency operations center and joint information center to coordinate the response.
The National Weather Service's National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for the Aleutian Islands and Hawaii, and a tsunami advisory for California, Oregon, and Washington. Guam and American Samoa were also placed under tsunami watch.
Emergency Measures in Place
Hawaii activated its statewide warning system, with sirens sounding every hour for the first 10 minutes to warn residents to evacuate coastal areas or move to the fourth floor or higher in buildings. The first tsunami wave was expected to reach the islands around 7:10 PM Hawaiian time on July 29th.
Japan Issues Tsunami Warnings
Following the earthquake, the Japanese government issued tsunami warnings for coastal regions, prompting people to evacuate beaches and low-lying areas. Reports indicate that a tsunami wave approximately 30cm high was observed in Hokkaido.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and urge residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and follow official guidance.