A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia Tuesday, sparking tsunami w:arnings in Hawaii and Alaska and alerts for other areas of the West Coast.
The earthquake took place about 85 miles off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula with a depth of nearly 12 miles, as per the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency upgraded the earthquake’s reported magnitude from initial reports of 8.0 and 8.7.
According to USGS, magnitude 6.3 and 6.9 aftershocks were also reported in the area, .
A tsunami wa:rning was made an announcement for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and Hawaii. California, Oregon and Washington are under a tsunami advisory, while the threat is being evaluated.
The California coast was upgraded to a Tsunami Advisory from a Tsunami Watch, and if a wave is generated, it’s expected to reach California at 11:50 p.m. and the Los Angeles area around 1 a.m. local time. Further down the coast, the city of Huntington Beach is closing its pier and beaches out of an abundance of caution.
The U.S. territories of Guam and American Samoa are also under a tsunami advisory, according to USGS.
The first tsunami wave is forecast to reach Hawaii just after 7:15 p.m. local time. Destructive tsunami waves are expected, according to Oahu Emergency Management.
Sources told ABC News the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has activated its Emergency Operations Center. Officials have also proactively activated their Joint Information Center and are meeting with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green’s team.
Sirens are currently going off on all Hawaii islands as a part of their statewide warning system, ten minutes after the hour for the next three hours in order to w:arn people.
People are warned to evacuate coastal areas, according to officials. Residents in Honolulu were urged to evacuate the primary evacuation zone or go to at least the fourth floor of a building.
All shores of the island are at risk because tsunami waves wrap around islands, according to the National Weather Service.
“The danger can continue for many hours after the initial wave as subsequent waves arrive. Tsunami heights cannot be predicted and the first wave may not be the largest,” the NWS said in an alert.
Also, an advisory was issued for Japan’s Pacific Coast regions from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
Japan’s meteorological agency w:arned that a tsunami about 1 meter (3 feet) high is expected to reach Hokkaido in the north around 10:00 a.m., local time, with waves arriving later in the day along parts of eastern Honshu and Kyushu in the south.
People are urged to stay away from the coast and river mouths and not to approach the water to observe.
A tsunami warning means that a tsunami that could lead to widespread, dangerous flooding and powerful currents is expected. A tsunami watch means a distant earthquake has occurred and a tsunami is possible.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
