A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia, sending tsunami waves towards Japan, Hawaii and the US West Coast, with tourists in Hawaii “panicking”
Tourists in Hawaii have had their dream holiday turned on its head as they’ve been forced to take shelter and await a tsunami hitting the shores of the island following an explosive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia.
Nearly two million people have been evacuated across Japan with warnings also issued for Hawaii and the entirety of the US west coast after the most powerful earthquake anywhere since 2011.
Jared and Kelly Newcomer are holidaying on the island of Oahu at Disney’s Aulani resort, where prices start at $544 (£406) a night. They shared an update on social media as they prepared to “wait out” the natural disaster. It comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.
Jared wrote on Facebook: “Well this is wild. We’re sheltered in place on the 10th floor of the Disney Aulani hotel in Hawaii waiting for the tsunami.
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“Supposed to hit in half an hour. Praying it’s not too bad. Everything is shut down, people are panicking. I was able to find some chips, ice cream, and bottled water to hold us over.”
Finding a silver lining, Jared added: “I actually found the last Coors Light in the hotel haha! I feel good about it, just gonna wait it out and watch from our balcony.”
The National Weather Service says that “a tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii. A tsunami warning remains in effect for the entire state of Hawaii.
Tsunami waves have already struck parts of Russia, Hawaii, California and Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, with dramatic footage showing walls of water crashing against shores.
One person has died so far, and tsunami flooding has damaged the port at Severo-Kurilsk on Russia’s Kuril Islands. Flights to Hawaii have been suspended.
An earthquake and tsunami warning for the US reads: “An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.7 has struck the eastern coast of Russia in the Kamchatka Peninsula region.”
“A tsunami threat message has been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. If you are in the affected areas potentially affected by the earthquake or tsunami you should follow the advice of the local authorities.”
Russia’s earthquake is one of the strongest ever recorded in the region. Horror four metre high tsunami waves left buildings in pieces and caused severe flooding in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
It had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0 when it initially struck, but the US Geological Survey later updated its measurement to 8.8 magnitude.
The shallow quake has caused injuries for several people while on Japan’s eastern coast an order was made to evacuate. A nursery was damaged but most buildings were able to stand firm, Russian authorities said.
Nearly two million individuals have been given evacuation advisories in over 220 municipalities along Japan’s Pacific coast, according to the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
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