Tsunami alerts have been issued for Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast and Alaska as well as Japan the Philippines, Indonesia, Guam, Peru and the Galapagos Islands, and parts of China following a massive earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Russia.
The Department Of Emergency Management for Hawaii’s main island of Oahu, which is home to the state capital of Honolulu, issued a warning at 6.15pm local time (9.15 pm PT) warning people in the city and surrounding areas to get to “higher elevations”.
It said the first waves were expected to arrive around 7.17pm local time (10.17pm PT). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported around that time that a 5.7ft (1.7m) wave had been recorded on Hawaii’s second largest island of Maui, while a 4.9ft (1.5m) wave was recorded in Hailo.
“This is a moment in time when people need to prioritize the safety of their families,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi from the City and County of Honolulu’s Emergency Operations Center.
“We need everyone to take this situation seriously, act accordingly, evacuate inundation zones, and listen to first responders. We are asking everyone to remain calm and be safe. Mahalo.”
The earthquake off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, which triggered the tsunami warnings, measured 8.8 on the Richer scale. Russian scientists said it most strongest quake to hit the region since 1952.
The Hawaii Film Office, which oversees shoots on the popular filming location, also posted a link on its website to the islands’ Emergency Management Agent, which in turn advises on safety measures and food security in the event of severe flooding.
There were no updates at this stage on the implications for film and TV shoots as the islands braced for potential big waves.
The U.S. National Weather Service issued a wider Tsunami warning which also included portions of Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, and the West Coast of the U.S.
It called on people on the West Coast to avoid beaches, harbours and marinas, with waves expected to reach San Francisco and California in the early hours of the morning.
U.S. President Donald Trump also issued an warning on his realDonaldTrump handle, calling on people to visit the country’s Tsunami control for updates.
