Tsunami warning as it happened: Millions evacuated after strongest earthquake recorded since 2011 hits Russia; warnings issued for Pacific nations; Hawaii downgrades threat

Thank you for tuning into our live tsunami-watch coverage after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s far east this morning.

A number of warnings remain in effect across the Pacific region, while many were downgraded. Here’s a look back at what we’ve covered today:

• The equal sixth-biggest earthquake in recorded history struck off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula this morning at 9.25am AEST.
• Russian news agencies, quoting the regional Health Ministry, said several people sought medical help in Kamchatka after the earthquake, but no serious injuries were reported.
• Evacuations, tsunami warnings and watches were issued across the Pacific, including in Russia and Japan, on the US west coast, and in Alaska, Hawaii, the Philippines and Indonesia.
• Dramatic footage emerged of waves crashing onto the coastal town of Severo-Kurilsk in Russia’s Sakhalin region, washing away buildings, barrels and other equipment.
• Sirens triggered panic in Hawaii, where residents choked highways in their race to higher ground and evacuation centres. Authorities were on high alert for a major tsunami for several hours, before the threat was downgraded to “advisory level” this evening.
• Parts of Japan also downgraded their tsunami warnings to advisory level, after almost 2 million residents were ordered to evacuate.
• A tsunami warning is still in place along Japan’s north-east coast, with a maximum wave height of three metres expected. This includes some of the areas that were worst affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, including the prefectures of Fukushima and Miyagi.
• All Indonesian tsunami warnings are at advisory level.
• In the US, waves lapped the California coast and surpassed one metre in the small northern community of Crescent City.
• Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology confirmed there was no tsunami threat to Australia.
• New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency expects strong currents and unpredictable coastal surges from midnight tonight in all coastal areas.

Thank you again for joining us.

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations across the Pacific from Japan to Hawaii.Credit: AP

With AP

Parts of Japan have also now downgraded their tsunami warnings to “advisory” level.

As things stand, a tsunami warning is still in place along the country’s north-east coast, with a maximum wave height of three metres expected. This includes some of the areas that were worst affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, including the prefectures of Fukushima and Miyagi.

But the forecast for much of the south coast, including Tokyo Bay, is at the lower advisory level, with a maximum wave height of one metre.

Most of Japan’s west coast is at forecast level, with only slight sea level changes are expected.

Parts of Japan’s coast have downgraded their tsunami warnings to “advisory” level.Credit: Japan Meteorological Agency

With AP

Local authorities in French Polynesia have issued a tsunami warning for the Marquesas Islands archipelago, with waves of up to 2.2 metres expected to hit the islands of Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva, and Hiva Oa.

The tsunami threat is expected to continue overnight. It has just turned 12.30am Wednesdau in Papeete, French Polynesia.

The warnings follow this morning’s powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

Residents were urged to move to higher ground and follow official instructions, including securing boats or moving them away from the shore.

Other archipelagos in French Polynesia may be affected by waves less than 30 cm high, which do not require evacuation or sheltering, local authorities said.

French Polynesia covers 4200 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of 118 islands, grouped into five archipelagos.

Reuters

The Philippines has joined Hawaii in downgrading its tsunami advisory after being largely unaffected by the aftermath of today’s magnitude 8.8 earthquake.

In a statement on social media, the country’s Department of Science and Technology said it had cancelled a warning in place since this morning, having detected no significant sea level disturbances or destructive tsunami waves.

The US National Weather Service has also downgraded a warning for its Pacific territories in the Northern Mariana Islands, including Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan.

“Oscillating water levels may continue to generate stronger than usual rip currents through tonight,” its updated advisory reads.

Waves have surpassed one metre in a small northern California community that was devastated by another tsunami more than 60 years ago.

Crescent City recorded waves of almost 1.1 metres minutes ago, according to the National Tsunami Warning Centre.

The small community earlier turned on its tsunami sirens to warn residents about possible waves.

“You are hearing a tsunami siren. We are under a tsunami warning. Please stay away from beaches and waterways. A predicted wave may hit at 11.55 pm. We are waiting on additional information about any level of evacuation,” read a post from the City Hall Facebook account earlier today.

It is now almost 3am in Crescent City.

The city in rural northern California has roughly 6000 residents.

A tsunami in 1964 triggered by an earthquake in Alaska caused a 6.4-metre-high wave to hit the city, killing 11 people and destroying its downtown.

Reuters

Asked about the extent of damage from powerful swells, the director of Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency, Major-General Stephen Logan, said authorities were yet to receive any reports of major damage, although the main island of Hawaii had experienced some flooding near the Hilo Hotel.

Oahu residents earlier evacuated Ewa Beach in Hawaii, where traffic was gridlocked.Credit: AP

Agency administrator James Barros advised stranded travellers, including several hundred people at the main airport on the island of Maui, to follow the directions of first responders wherever they were.

“We’re still postured that if they need assistance ... we can provide assistance,” he said.

A major tsunami is not expected to strike Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has announced.

The agency has downgraded Hawaii’s tsunami threat to “advisory level”, meaning authorities are still on alert for tsunami waves – but a significant tsunami is not expected.

An evacuee with his dogs at Oahu, Hawaii. Credit: AP

Authorities, addressing media minutes ago, warned there was still threatening “energy” in Hawaii’s waters, which people should steer clear of.

Evacuated residents have been allowed to return home.Credit: AP

However, it is safe to return to evacuated areas, and commercial harbours will be reopened, Reuters reported.

With Reuters

The US embassy in Papua New Guinea has issued a tsunami threat alert for the country, alongside the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

In an alert posted to its website, the embassy warned US citizens to be prepared to immediately move to higher ground if they were in coastal areas and noticed “unusual sea activity or feel strong or prolonged shaking”.

“Avoid coastal areas, beaches, and rivers until further notice,” the alert reads.

“Ensure your emergency supplies are ready, including water, food, medications, and important documents.”

The tsunami has reached the California coast, the US National Weather Service says.

The agency’s Los Angeles service posted to X minutes ago that the tsunami passed a tide gauge at Arena Cove, and “is making its way down the coast right now”.

The water level reached 2.95 feet, or less than a metre, above the maximum.

The tsunami arrived in San Francisco about 1.12am, local time.

The weather service cautioned its graphs showed the observed arrival of the initial tsunami wave, not the peak level.

Hawaii has now recorded a tsunami wave of about 1.7 metres, superseding the previous high of about 1.2 metres.

The wave was recorded at Kahului in Maui. State Governor Josh Green said earlier that no waves of consequence had hit Hawaii but all flights in and out of Maui were cancelled.

Authorities there are monitoring the situation in the hopes they can declare an all-clear in the coming hours.