A strong earthquake off the shore of eastern Russia is sending a tsunami across the Pacific Ocean. The swell has triggered warnings and advisories in Japan, Alaska, Hawaii and much of the Western U.S. coast.
By CNN’s estimate, the quake is tied for the sixth-strongest ever recorded.
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The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude of the quake at 8.8 on the Richter scale, while the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Tsunami Warning System (TWS) measures it at 8.7.
TWS has issued warnings for the coastal areas of the Hawaiian Islands. Social media platforms were populated with images of gridlock in Honolulu as residents sought high ground while tsunami warnings hit residents’ phones and sirens sounded.
The first waves were expected to reach the islands around 7:15 pm local time.
“A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE ALONG COASTLINES OF ALL ISLANDS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. URGENT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY,” a bulletin from the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management read.
San Francisco’s Emergency Management Agency issued a warning Tuesday evening, saying dangerous currents are expected to hit the Bay Area shortly after midnight Pacific Time.
