A tsunami sent powerful waves toward coastal areas of Russia’s Kuril Islands, Japan and Hawaii and Alaska and California after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia early Wednesday.
Japan has downgraded its last remaining tsunami alert, which was in the country’s north. Tsunami advisories remain in place for its Pacific coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami as high as 60 centimeters (2 feet) had been detected as the waves moved south along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Tokyo Bay. Damage and evacuations were reported in the Russian regions nearest the quake’s epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula and officials declared a state of emergency in several areas.
What to know:
- Hawaii downgrades to tsunami advisory: Hawaii was still under a tsunami advisory as Wednesday began, but evacuation orders on the Big Island and Oahu, the most populated island, had been lifted. An advisory means there is the potential for strong currents and dangerous waves, as well as flooding on beaches or in harbors.
- Other tsunami warnings: The National Tsunami Warning Center, based in Alaska, issued a tsunami advisory for parts of California, Oregon and Washington. A tsunami advisory has also been issued for much of the coast of Canada’s Pacific Coast province of British Columbia.
- The earthquake: The quake, which struck at 8:25 a.m. Japan time, had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, Japan and U.S. seismologists said. The U.S. Geological Survey later updated its measurement to 8.8 magnitude. The quake was centered about 119 kilometers (74 miles) east-southeast from the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Multiple aftershocks as strong as 6.9 magnitude were recorded.
California city urges people to stay away from beaches
Officials in Crescent City issued the warning after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s coast provoked tsunami waves.
Crescent City has observed dozens of tsunamis since the 1930s, including one that killed 11 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings in the city in 1964.
That event is considered the worst tsunami disaster recorded in the United States. The city’s downtown area was mostly rebuilt and today a walking tour highlights high-water marks posted on surviving buildings.
No comments:
Post a Comment