HONOLULU - One of the strongest earthquakes ever measured struck off the eastern coast of Russia on Tuesday evening, triggering fears of a tsunami across much of the Pacific Ocean basin, including the shores of Hawaii, southern Alaska, the entire U.S. West Coast and British Columbia.
Tsunami Warnings are in effect for Hawaii and parts of Alaska, while the entire U.S. West Coast and British Columbia are under a Tsunami Advisory after a monster magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck just east of Petropavlovsk, Russia.
"A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. "Urgent action could be taken to protect lives and property."
Initial data from the quake suggest tsunami waves reaching more than 9 feet above the tide level are possible along some coasts of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Russia, according to the PTWC. Waves of 3-9 feet (1-3 meters) are possible along some coasts of Hawaii, Japan, and Guam.
The first waves would reach Hawaii around 7:17 p.m. Hawaiian Time (1 a.m. ET), the PWTC says.
The PWTC says any first waves wouldn't reach the Washington and Oregon coasts until 11:40 p.m. PT (2:40 a.m. ET), around San Francisco around 12:40 a.m. PT Wednesday, and around the Los Angeles coast around 1:05 a.m. PT.
The Tsunami Advisory along the West Coast includes inland waters connected to the Pacific Ocean, including the San Francisco Bay in California, the Columbia River coast on the Washington and Oregon border, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca that separates Washington's Olympic Peninsula with British Columbia's Vancouver Island.
The PTWC estimates California's Crescent City may see the largest tsunami waves, measuring as high as 3 to 5.7 feet. Point San Luis could see waves from 1.7 to 3.2 feet, while up to about 1.5 feet waves are possible around Fort Bragg and Santa Barbara. The rest of the California coast is expecting minimal waves of less than a foot, the PTWC said.
Similarly, waves will be under a foot along British Columbia and much of the Washington Coast, with the exception Moclips area, which may see waves up to 1.4 feet.
In Oregon, tsunami waves could reach up to 2 feet along Brookings and Port Orford but should stay under a foot elsewhere.
Waves are expected to reach Shemya at 4:46 p.m. Alaska Daylight time, and 5:46 p.m. AKDT in Adak.
The danger extends to Japan, where Tsunami Warnings are also in effect.
"A #tsunami warning is currently in effect for the Eastern Pacific Coast of #Hokkaido and #Tohoku region, #Kanto region, Izu & Ogasawara Islands, Tokai region, and Wakayama Prefecture," the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo posted on X. "Tsunami waves may arrive imminently—evacuate immediately to higher ground."
According to the USGS, an 8.8 magnitude quake would tie for the 6th-strongest quake on record.
Updates to follow soon.
Original article source: Tsunami alerts triggered for entire U.S. West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii after massive 8.8 quake strikes off Russia
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