Powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake triggers tsunami alerts across Pacific including US coast and Japan
Tsunami warning live updates
The first waves have hit Hawaii after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka peninsula and triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
Tsunami warning sirens blared in Honolulu on Wednesday as the emergency department called for the evacuation of some coastal areas in preparation. The coastguard issued an advisory for all boats, saying they should leave port ahead of the tsunami.
The first waves hit the islands shortly after 8pm, with a gauge at Hanalei recording a wave height of 3ft above normal sea level. The Haleiwa gauge, on Oahu’s North Shore, recorded a tsunami amplitude of 4ft above normal sea level.
