Japan is bracing for a massive 15ft tsunami and has told two million people to evacuate following a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that has sent tsunami waves flying out across the wold.
Tsunami waves hit both Japan and Russia on Sunday evening, and the first waves to strike the United States are due to hit Hawaii within minutes.
Sirens have been blaring across the island as residents were warned to evacuate or seek shelter on the fourth floor or higher of high rise buildings.
Authorities indicated waves as high as 10 feet, or three meters, above normal tide level could tear through coastal towns within minutes.
Meanwhile millions of Americans across Guam, California, Washington and Oregon are under various levels of warnings, with tsunami waves expected to land throughout the night.
The quake reached a magnitude of 8.8 – which makes it the sixth strongest earthquake ever measured.
It struck about 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatska, off the coast of Russia, about 7.24pm EST.
Buildings in Russia were captured on video already under water or being entirely washed away after the first waves hit.
Several people were taken to hospital with various injuries. At least one woman sustained injuries by jumping out of a window, Russian authorities said.
It is the largest earthquake to hit since 2011, when a 9.1 megaquake hit northeast Japan and left 19,747 people either dead or missing.
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Data from the US Geological Survey shows the quake reached a magnitude of 8.8 and struck about 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatska, Russia at around 7.24pm EST.
The quake was believed to be the strongest to strike on the entire planet in 14 years, when a 9.1 megaquake hit northeast Japan and left 19,747 people either dead or missing.
A tsunami advisory has been extended to cover the entire West Coast of the United States
U.S. West Coast and Hawaii are under a tsunami advisory : NPR
The quake reached a magnitude of 8.7 and struck about 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatska at around 7.24pm EST
Several were injured in Russia and kindergarten in Petropavlovsk collapsed from the quake as tsunami waves could be seen reaching the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
‘Unfortunately, there are some people injured during the seismic event. Some were hurt while running outside, and one patient jumped out of a window. A woman was also injured inside the new airport terminal,’ Oleg Melnikov, regional health minister told Russia´s TASS state news agency.
‘All patients are currently in satisfactory condition, and no serious injuries have been reported so far.’
The Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences also said it was a very powerful earthquake.
‘However, due to certain characteristics of the epicenter, the shaking intensity was not as high … as one might expect from such a magnitude,’ it said in a video on Telegram.
‘Aftershocks are currently ongoing … Their intensity will remain fairly high. However, stronger tremors are not expected in the near future. The situation is under control.’
But in Hawaii, the Department of Emergency Management for Oahu, an island of Hawaii, urged residents on the coast to evacuate the area or at least move to higher ground ahead.
Officials in Guam also urged residents to get off the beaches and harbors.
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Passersby in Japan stopped to watch the news as the island nation remained under a tsunami threat Tuesday night
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The tsunami ‘could be destructive’ to coastal areas, authorities at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned.
The warning added that ‘waves reaching more than three meters above the tide level [or about 10 feet] are possible along some coasts of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.’
The National Weather Service also warned residents they ‘are in danger.’
‘Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return,’ the department said in an alert.
Meteorologist Matthew Cappucci also urged Americans to ‘prepare to evacuate vertically if warnings are issued.’
‘Move away from beaches, harbors, marinas, bays and inlets. If you’re in a boat and cannot reach shore, sail away from the coast into deeper waters where the tsunami’s energy will be dispersed. Head to a place with an ocean depth of at least 180 feet.’
The earthquake on Tuesday came just over one week after several other tremors struck the area, including one that measured a 7.4 magnitude.
Tuesday’s earthquake is the largest this year, and is the first magnitude 8.0 or higher since 2021.
Kamchatka and Russia’s Far East sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region that is prone to major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Japan warns tsunami threat may last another day
Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned that the threat of a high tsunami will last for another day.
Masashi Kiyomoto, a spokesperson for the agency, asked people to get to high ground and other safe places as the tsunami continues to be observed
Colombia orders Pacific evacuations
Colombia has orders evacuations following the Russian quake that caused tsunami waves to go around the world.
Dozens of ships fled Honolulu before tsunami, data reveals
According to MarineTraffic, 91 vessels left honolulu Harbour in the hours following tsunami alerts.
The vessel tracking service said that the majority ‘comprised fishing boats, pleasure crafts and Coast Guard ships, moving to deeper waters as a safety measure.’
Tsunami waves now reach Washington state
Tsunami waves have now reached Washington state, according to the US National Weather Service.
Officials from the agency said: ‘Keep away from the water and shore until local officials say it is safe to return.’
