A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday, the sixth strongest ever recorded, causing tsunami waves to roll towards countries around the Pacific Rim.
Hawaii recorded waves of up to 5.6ft on Tuesday as the impact started to reach the islands.
Evacuation orders have been put in place for much of the islands’ coastlines. As of Tuesday evening local time, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has downgraded the Tsunami Warning for the state of Hawaii to a Tsunami Advisory.
While Hawaii’s largest airport in Honolulu is operating, other airports around the state have temporarily suspended their operations.
Alongside Hawaii, parts of mainland United States, Japan and several other Pacific islands have been placed under tsunami warnings or advisories following the quake, while damage and evacuations are reported in the Russian regions nearest the epicentre.
Here’s what to know if you are travelling in or out of Hawaii as the tsunami strikes.
Where has the tsunami struck?
A tsunami warning was in effect for Hawaii until late Tuesday evening, and has now been downgraded to an advisory. A 5.7ft wave was recorded in Kahului, Maui, at a similar time that a 4.9ft wave was recorded hitting the town of Hilo in Hawaii on Tuesday evening local time.
A 3.9ft wave was also recorded in Hanalei, Maui. This follows a 4ft wave hitting the Hawaiian island of O’ahu.
Hawaii’s emergency services have advised people in the coastal areas in certain zones to evacuate, covering all of O’ahu’s coastline and various parts of the coast on other Hawaiian islands. The full evacuation zones can be found here.
The above post is one of several graphics highlighting evacuation areas for the various Hawaiian islands.
Alongside evacuating the areas marked in red, authorities have advised people to go to higher ground, such as the fourth floor or above in buildings at least 10 stories high.
UK government travel advice
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised those in Hawaii to follow the guidance of the local authorities.
“An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.7 has struck the eastern coast of Russia in the Kamchatka Peninsula…
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