Hawaii downgrades tsunami warning
Hawaii lifted an evacuation order Wednesday morning after being struck by waves from a tsunami following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia.
The earthquake sent shockwaves through Japan, Hawaii and the West Coast of the U.S. An advisory order remains in place for the islands, warning local residents to take heed of harsher winds and rip currents in the ocean.
“A tsunami is not just one wave. It’s a series of powerful waves over a long period of time. Tsunamis cross the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour — as fast as a jet airplane — in deep water,” Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, told The Associated Press.
“But when they get close to the shore, they slow down and start to pile up. And that’s where that inundation problem becomes a little bit more possible there,” he added.
The Department of Transportation canceled all flights to and from Maui on Tuesday as Hilo International Airport was also closed and baggage operations at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport were temporarily suspended.
Although the Hawaii evacuation order has been lifted, authorities are encouraging those returning to remain vigilant.
“As you return home, still stay off the beach and stay out of the water,” said James Barros, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, per the AP.
Black Hawk helicopter crews were activated by Gov. Josh Green (D-Hawaii) to ensure vehicles were prepared to rescue any individuals caught in the water.
However, Hawaii was not the only U.S. state impacted by the Russian earthquake. Northern California saw waves up to 5.7 feet while water reached a foot above tide level in Alaska, the news wire reported.
Seattle also felt rougher currents due to the aftershock of the earthquake.
“Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way,” President Trump wrote late Tuesday in a post on Truth Social.
He added, “Please visit tsunami.gov/ for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!”
The Associated Press contributed.