Tsunami waves hit U.S. shores after quake strikes Russia’s far east; B.C. under advisory

Communities across the Pacific have been impacted by waves following tsunami warnings triggered by a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast.

The quake, which hit Tuesday (July 29), ranks among the six most powerful ever recorded, CNN reports.

U.S. shores, including in Hawai’i, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska have been hit by waves, reports say.

The tsunami’s first waves hit Russia and Japan, where nearly two million people have been evacuated.

In Hawai’i, the tsunami warning, as of 10:39 p.m. HST, was downgraded to an advisory, according to the National Weather Service.

The “worst part of it” is over, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Director Chip McCreery said Tuesday night, as reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

From last night’s update, the gauge measurements showed 5.7 feet waves in Kahului, 4.9 feet waves in Hilo, four feet waves in Haleiwa, three feet waves in Hanalei, 1.2 feet waves in Waianae and 1.1 feet waves in Honolulu.

Hawaii Adjutant General Major General Stephen Logan, head of the state Department of Defence, said that so far, no major damage has been reported. However, he noted there have been reports of flooding at the Hilo Seaside Hotel on the Big Island.

The only tsunami warning remaining in the U.S. is in Northern California

An advisory-level alert means there are strong currents and waves that make it dangerous to people in or near the water.

One level lower is a tsunami watch, and the all-clear could be declared Wednesday (July 30).

Waves under 30 centimetres above tide levels were also observed in the Alaskan communities of Amchitka and Adak, said Alaska's National Tsunami Warning Centre co-ordinator Dave Snider.

Tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes that shift the seafloor, forcing it to rise or fall and displacing large amounts of water.

This movement releases energy that drives massive volumes of seawater, creating waves.

Though often imagined as a single giant wave, tsunamis usually consist of a series of waves that come ashore more like a rapidly rising tide.

On the U.S. mainland, the National Weather Service said it had recorded waves up to 3.6 feet in the Crescent City, Arena Cove and Monterey area in California in the early hours of the morning, local time.

Tsunami waves are continuing to hit the coast of California, local authorities report.

The Bay Area weather service said tidal swings of 2 to 2.5 feet have been seen in the San Francisco area.

It said: “This can create some seriously dangerous currents along beaches and harbours. It's just a good idea to stay away from the water today!”

Over in Japan, the country’s Meteorological Agency downgraded its tsunami alert to an advisory in the Pacific coast south of Fukushima, with the alert still in place farther north.

Ports along Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula near the epicentre of the 8.8 magnitude quake experienced flooding as residents rushed inland to safety, while waves reached the shores of northern Japan, reports say.

In Japan, people moved to evacuation centres, their actions shaped by memories of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that led to nuclear reactor meltdowns.

As of Wednesday, no irregularities were reported at any of the country’s nuclear facilities.

In an update late on Tuesday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a major tsunami is not expected to strike Hawai’i, with flights restarting at Honolulu International Airport and commercial harbours expected to reopen for traffic.

B.C. on alert

A tsunami advisory was also issued for B.C.'s north and central coasts, including Kitimat and Bella Coola, Haida Gwaii and the west and northeast coasts of Vancouver Island.

It also spanned the Juan de Fuca Strait from Jordan River to Greater Victoria, including the Saanich Peninsula.

The advisory adds strong waves and currents could drown or injure people who are in the water, and currents at beaches, harbours, marinas or bays could be dangerous.

"Significant inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory, but coastal zones may be at risk due to strong currents," reads an Emergency Info B.C. advisory.

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