An urgent Tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii following a major 8.7 magnitude earthquake that struck just east of Petropavlovsk, Russia.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said that the earthquake hit just before 1:30 pm Hawaii Standard Time near the east coast of Kamchatka.
Officials spent the past several hours keeping watch for signs of a tsunami.
An urgent alert was then issued by the National Weather Service, saying “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts around you.
“You are in danger,” it continued, reports The Mirror US.
“Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.”
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning centre, if waves were to hit Hawaii, the earliest would arrive around 7:17 pm HST – approximately three hours from the time the official warning was issued.
“An investigation is under way to determine if there is a tsunami threat to Hawaii,” the PTWC said before the official warning was issued.
“Based on all available data a tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake that could be destructive on coastal areas even far from the epicentre.
“For other US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America, the level of tsunami danger is being evaluated,” the PTWC said.
“Further information will be provided in supplementary messages.”
The California coastline and parts of Alaska have also been put on a tsunami advisory. The Samalga Pass, which is close to Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, is also under the warning.
The National Weather Service for Los Angeles shared updated information on X, writing, “A TSUNAMI WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT for coastal San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. An earthquake 8.7 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk Kamchatka, Russia. Stay tuned for updates.”
On X today, one user shared an urgent warning shared by the O’ahu Department of Emergency Management.
The message read, “YOU ARE IN DANGER! Move to high ground or inland NOW!”.
The message included an advisory for people to move to the fourth floor or higher where possible.
In other social media posts, people shared images of heavy traffic in Honolulu, indicating that people are on the move to higher ground.
People sent out messages to fellow residents of the island, saying, “Please don’t wait. Traffic is already heavy.”