BBC interrupted its scheduled programme with terrifying visuals from Russia and Japan to announce the tsunami breaking news after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Russia
A BBC presenter was interrupted mid-interview as a loud siren tore through her broadcast, signalling the arrival of a massive earthquake and incoming tsunami.
Terrifying footage from Kamchatka Krai in Russia this morning showed the moment massive shockwaves tore through the country’s far east, with scenes televised by the BBC capturing panic setting in as haunting alert sirens sounded. This comes as the tsunami triggered warnings across several countries across the Pacific, leading the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to issue urgent guidance.
A video has captured the moment BBC Asia Business Correspondant Suranjana Tewari was caught by the news and left stunned as scenes played out in the background.
READ MORE: Tsunami warnings LIVE: 8.8-mag earthquake sees first tsunami waves hit Hawaii
Visuals of a man holding on to the walls of his house in Kamchatka Krai in Russia were broadcast, as the house’s interiors were rocked by the colossal quake.
Chilling footage of massive waves surging past buildings off the coast of Severo-Kurilsk in Russia followed next, with the waves taking along with them most of what was on the ground, including whole building structures.
Next followed frightening visuals from Hokkaido, Japan, with loud warning sirens sounding off in a densely populated residential area.
Japan’s weather agency reports that a 4.3-foot (1.3-meter) tsunami has struck the northern Iwate Prefecture, prompting evacuation orders for 1.9 million people across the country.
Tsunami waves have also reached the areas of Fukushima and Miyagi, with the agency adding that it’s expecting waves to reach as high as 3m (9ft).
In the United States, the first waves triggered by the massive 8.8 earthquake have reached Hawaii, bringing with it a 4ft (1.2m) wave that’s been recorded off the coast of Oahu.
According to the US Geological Survey, the tremor reportedly had a depth of 18km.
Considered to be one of the strongest earthquakes in modern history, people in Hawaii along with some parts of the US west coast have also been told to evacuate to safety.
Tsunami alerts of varying degrees have also been issued for Canada’s British Columbia, Indonesia, French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Papa New Guinea, Peru, the Solomon Islands and the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. Further tsunami advisories for the Philippines and Guam have been cancelled.
Japan and Alaska have been given evacuation orders after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across the world. Evacuation orders have also been issued for Colombia’s Pacific coast.
Hawaii’s tsunami warning has been downgraded and people who evacuated may return home, as advised by Hawaii Emergency Management Agency director Stephen Logan.
Currently, there are no reports of any fatalities or injuries.
The tsunami breaking news footage had interrupted a tense BBC News interview between Tewari and Hawaii local Kelsea Shepherd, who was being evacuated from her home.
While on air, Kelsea received an emergency alert as loud sirens went off, interrupting the broadcast. As the sirens blared, Kelsea explained, “Sorry, we have a siren going off now.”
Tewari responded: “Just to clarify for our viewers, that’s you getting — is that another tsunami warning you just got?” Kelsea confirmed that it was.
Reading the emergency alert out loud for viewers, the Hawaii resident shared: “The message says, ‘Siren sounding for tsunami threat two hours out from first wave arrival, estimated at 7:10pm. Evacuate coastal areas.’ And that was sent by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.”
Kelsea continued: “I wouldn’t say we were prepared for this, but we did have a tsunami watch about a week ago and so for my husband and I immediately we packed up our 75 hour bags and we are just hoping that all the families can stay safe and get to high ground and hopefully the tsunami will not be harmful to Hawaii and everywhere around the world.”