Tsunami live updates: First waves hit California and Hawaii after massive 8.8-Richter earthquake strikes Russia
Tsunami waves have begun reaching the coast of Hawaii and the US west coast after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s far east during the early hours of Wednesday.
Evacuation orders have been issued for large parts of the US west coast with authorities ordering people to “take action now” and get away from the sea.
The US National Weather Service said it had recorded waves in the Arena Cove and Monterey area in California in the early hours of the morning, local time.
Tsunamis are triggered by underwater earthquakes, which cause the seafloor to rise and drop, lifting water up and down. The energy from this pushes huge volumes of sea water that transfers to waves. While many people think of a tsunami as one big wave, in reality they are typically multiple waves that rush ashore like a fast-rising tide.
Tsunami waves as high as 5 metres hit coastal areas of the disputed Kuril Islands shortly after the earthquake, while Japanese authorities recorded tsunami waves of around 40cm in 16 locations off the coast of Hokkaido.
