Evacuation orders and tsunami advisories were lifted on Wednesday as fears eased following the arrival of tsunami waves generated by a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of eastern Russia.
The earthquake, one of the strongest ever recorded, triggered warnings that sent residents in Hawaii, Alaska, and along the U.S. West Coast scrambling to higher ground. On Oahu, water levels receded 20 to 30 feet, briefly leaving boats stranded on dry sand before waves returned. In California, waves up to four feet high were recorded in Crescent City, prompting officials to close beaches overnight.
By late Wednesday morning, the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center canceled its advisory for the West Coast, and Los Angeles County reopened beaches. Hawaii followed suit, lifting evacuation orders and canceling its tsunami advisory by afternoon, though lifeguards continued to caution visitors about changing ocean conditions.
Traffic jams and delays marked Tuesday evening evacuations in Honolulu and Maui, where sirens and alerts urged residents inland. Schools on some islands canceled sports and other activities as a precaution.
The quake also coincided with an eruption of Russia’s Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, the largest active volcano in the northern hemisphere. Streams of lava flowed from the mountain’s western slopes as scientists confirmed the eruption had been anticipated for weeks.
No significant damage or injuries were reported in the U.S., though minor flooding was observed in some harbor areas.
Source: The Weather Channel