Tsunami alerts are in place after a massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Russia. Image: NOAA//US Tsunami Warning System
A tsunami alert has been issued for Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, the Philippines, and many of the small islands south of the Russian epicenter of a massive earthquake.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake hit near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia, a few minutes before 1:30 p.m. HST. There are four advisory categories in the Tsunami Warning Center’s alert rating: Warning, Advisory, Watch, and Threat. The first and most severe indicates a tsunami is likely imminent and demands evacuations to higher ground. As of this writing, Hawaii and Alaska both are at the Warning level.
The center predicts that if waves do hit Hawaii, they will begin at 7:17 p.m. HST. Japan has ordered immediate evacuations for many parts of the country, according to NHK.
“A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii,” reads an update from the National Weather Center. “Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property.”
Tsunami waves come in a series. Wave heights can’t be predicted, and the first wave isn’t always the largest. They can wrap around islands, meaning safe harbors generally don’t exist.
“All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face,” the National Weather Center continued. “The trough of a tsunami wave may temporarily expose the seafloor, but the area will quickly flood again. Extremely strong and unusual nearshore currents can accompany a tsunami. Debris picked up and carried by a tsunami amplifies its destructive power.”
This is a developing story. We’ll have more as news occurs.
