World’s biggest earthquake in 14 years sparks Pacific-wide tsunami fears
Updated:
The world’s biggest earthquake in 14 years has plunged Japan, Russia and the entire west coast of America into tsunami watch and sparked fears for millions.
The quake reached a magnitude of 8.8 and struck about 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatska. off the coast of Russia, about 7.24pm EST.
It is the largest earthquake to hit since 2011, when a 9.1 megaquake hit northeast Japan and left 19,747 people either dead or missing.
Tsunami waves hit both Japan and Russia on Sunday evening while millions of Americans across Hawaii, Guam, California, Washington and Oregon are under various levels of warnings.
Buildings in Russia were captured on video already under water after the first waves hit, with several people taken to hospital with various injuries.
At least one woman sustained injuries by jumping out of a window, Russian authorities said.
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Kindergarten damaged in Russia during quake
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov confirmed that a kindergarten was damaged in the earthquake.
‘Today’s earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,’ he said.
No students were inside the building at the time as it was being repaired.
Earthquake upgraded to 8.8 magnitude
The initial earthquake – already the largest in 14 years – has been upgraded from an 8.7 magnitude to 8.8 magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey.
New Zealand issues tsunami alert
New Zealand authorities have warned people in coastal areas to stay away from beaches and shore areas.
– The West Coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Raglan, including the West Coast of Auckland and Manukau Harbour, and from Hawera to Whanganui.
– The East and South Coasts of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Makara including Whangarei, Great Barrier Island, the East Coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitemata Harbour, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne, Napier, Lake Ferry, the Wellington South Coast and Wellington Harbour.
– The West Coast of the South Island from Farewell Spit to Milford Sound including Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika,
– The top of the South Island from Farewell Spit to Port Underwood including Nelson, Picton and the Marlborough Sounds.
– The East and South Coasts of the South Island from the Clarence River to Puysegur Point including Kaikoura, Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula and Invercargill.
– Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands.
There is no need to evacuate unless ordered to be local authorities, the National Emergency Management Agency said.
First tsunami waves hit Japan, Russia
A tsunami has hit coastal areas of Russia’s Kuril Islands and Japan’s large northern island of Hokkaido after an 8.7-magnitude earthquake early Wednesday.
Tsunami warning sirens blared Tuesday in Honolulu and people were told to move to higher ground.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a first tsunami wave of about 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) reached Nemuro on the eastern coast of Hokkaido.
The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia’s Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko.
He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone.
A timelapse of the 2011 Japan earthquake has provided a shocking glimpse into how fast it takes a tsunami to reach the rest of the world.
The 9.1 Richter quake struck the north east coast of Honshu – Japan’s main island – at 2.46pm local time on March 11, causing a tsunami up to 56ft high that washed inland and destroyed everything in its path.
A harrowing reconstruction of the disaster shows how within a matter of the hours the colossal wave was able to cross the largest ocean on earth – resulting in devastating consequences for any country in its wake.
What time could a tsunami hit the west coast of America?
Authorities have warned residents along the west coast to prepare for a potential tsunami.
These are the times it could hit each location:
Hawaii: 7.17pm HST (1.17am EST)
Washington State: 11.40pm PT (2.40am EST)
Oregon: 11.40pm PT (2.40am EST)
California, San Francisco: 12.40pm PT (3.40am EST)
California, Malibu and San Diego: 1.05am PT (4.05am EST)
Terrifying warning from Hawaiian authorities: ‘All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face’
Hawaiian authorities have issued a chilling explainer ahead of an approaching tsunami.
‘A tsunami is a series of long ocean waves. Each individual wave crest can last 5 to 15 minutes or more and extensively flood coastal areas.
‘The danger can continue for many hours after the initial wave as subsequent waves arrive. Tsunami wave heights cannot be predicted and the first wave may not be the largest.
‘Tsunami waves efficiently wrap around islands. All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face.
‘The trough of a tsunami wave may temporarily expose the seafloor but the area will quickly flood again.
Extremely strong and unusual nearshore currents can accompany a tsunami. Debris picked up and carried by a tsunami amplifies its destructive power.
‘Simultaneous high tides or high surf can significantly increase the tsunami hazard.’
California issues Tsunami Watch warning
Authorities in California are currently evaluating the threat, but have warned a tsunami could arrive as early as 12.15am local time.
‘Flooding of coastal regions is possible,’ authorities warned.
The Watch alert includes all coastal regions in the Bay Area and Central Coast, including San Francisco and San Pablo bays.
Three meter waves expected to strike Japan, authorities say
The Japan National Tourism Organization has started rolling out urgent warnings for regions which are at risk of 3 meter tsunami waves within hours.
The impacted regions are:
– coastal regions of Wakayama Prefecture
– coastal regions of Southern Part of Mie Prefecture
– coastal regions of Pacific Coast of Aichi Prefecture
– coastal regions of Shizuoka Prefecture
– coastal regions of Sagami Bay and Miura Peninsula
– coastal regions of Ogasawara Islands
– coastal regions of Izu Islands
– coastal regions of Uchibo Area, Chiba Prefecture
– coastal regions of Kujukuri and Sotobo Area, Chiba Prefecture
– coastal regions of Ibaraki Prefecture
– coastal regions of Fukushima Prefecture
– coastal regions of Miyagi Prefecture
– coastal regions of Iwate Prefecture
– coastal regions of Pacific Coast of Aomori Prefecture
– coastal regions of Western part of Pacific Coast of Hokkaido
– coastal regions of Central part of Pacific Coast of Hokkaido
– coastal regions of Eastern part of Pacific Coast of Hokkaido
Oahu emergency management issues urgent alert for Hawaii residents: Take action now
Oahu Emergency Management has issued an urgent warning for residents to ‘take action’ now ahead of expected ‘destructive tsunami waves.’
People within evacuation areas on the island are uregd to seek higher ground or take shelter on the 4th floor or above of a building at least 10 stories high.
Tsunami warnings issued for parts of Russia, Japan
Russia’s Kamchatka’s Pensinsula has been placed under tsunami warning with residents urged to stay clear of the coastline.
A tsunami wave up to four meters tall has already been recorded in the region, authorities revealed.
Meanwhile, the Pacific coast of Japan is under a similar warning with fears that waves of up to 1 meter will reach the coast between 10am and 11am.
Similarly, residents have been warned to stay away from the coastline.
Tsunami warning issued for parts of America
Authorities at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center have warned that ‘a tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake that could be destructive’ to coastal areas.
It also warned that ‘waves reaching more than three meters above the tide level [or about 10 feet] are possible along some coasts of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.’
‘Prepare to evacuate vertically if warnings are issued,’ meteorologist Matthew Capucci warned.
Preliminary data from the US Geological Survey shows the quake reached a magnitude of 8.7 and struck about 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatska at around 7.24pm EST.
It is the largest earthquake to hit since 2011, when a 9.1 megaquake hit northeast Japan.
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