Following a deep-sea earthquake in the Russian Far East, multiple coastal areas along the Pacific Ocean have been issued tsunami warnings. Tsunami waves have started to arrive in Alaska and Hawaii on Tuesday evening (July 29th), with Kahului in Maui, Hawaii, recording waves exceeding 5 feet in height.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States has indicated that other areas along the western coast are also expected to experience wave impacts in the coming hours.
According to NOAA observational data, significant waves have been recorded in various parts of Hawaii. Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu reported waves over 4 feet high, while Kahului in Maui observed tsunami waves over 5 feet high.
On the US West Coast, the Aleutian Islands in Alaska have already been hit by tsunamis, with parts of Northern California also on high alert.
According to estimates from the National Tsunami Warning Center in the US, tsunami waves are projected to reach Oregon and Washington around 11:35 p.m. local time on Tuesday, California by 11:50 p.m., enter the San Francisco Bay Area by 12:40 a.m., and reach the port of Los Angeles by 1 a.m.
Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, stated that as of Tuesday evening local time, although multiple tsunami waves have been observed in various parts of Hawaii, some exceeding 5 feet in height, there have not been any reports of destructive waves, disasters, or power outages.
Green emphasized that the tsunami warning remains in effect, and it is estimated that another two to three hours of observation will be needed before safety can be assured.
He urged the public not to take the situation lightly and stated: “When we see the significant retreat of seawater at Haleiwa and boats stranded on dry sand and rocks, we know that it is not a normal phenomenon.” Such receding tides often herald an impending large-scale tsunami.
He also advised residents to refrain from going out and avoid making emergency calls to preserve resources for those truly in need.
All flights to Maui have been canceled, with around 200 passengers spending the night inside the airport terminal. The Coast Guard has closed all commercial ports, preemptively deployed ships and aircraft, and prepared for potential post-disaster operations.
In mainland US, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation warnings to residents living on boats in Moss Landing, advising them to seek alternative temporary accommodations to mitigate potential harm to port facilities from strong water currents.
The US Coast Guard pointed out that while widespread flooding is not expected, strong ocean currents could cause damage to vessels and port infrastructure.
The earthquake and tsunamis have also impacted various regions across the Pacific.
In Russia, the earthquake in the Far East led to the collapse of a kindergarten, fortunately without casualties. Tsunami waves subsequently hit the Severo-Kurilsk area at the southern end of the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the local government has declared a state of emergency, with footage showing a large volume of water rushing into the city and washing away industrial facilities.
In Japan, tsunami waves have been observed in multiple areas, with the highest wave height recorded at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture at 1.3 meters (4.3 feet), while waves in other regions remained below 60 centimeters. Though lower than the initially predicted 3 meters, 21 prefectures in Japan have issued evacuation orders to over 1.9 million people, with some residents in Hokkaido seeking refuge on rooftops.
Other regions that have issued tsunami warnings and alerts include the Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Taiwan.
Experts highlighted that certain coastal areas in Northern California have a higher tsunami risk due to their unique topography.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in the US noted that the local seabed features “underwater valleys,” concentrating the energy of tsunami waves in narrow spaces, leading to increased wave heights and impact force. This coastline segment stretches from Cape Mendocino to the border with Oregon, with waves as high as 5 feet expected late Tuesday night.
This area includes Crescent City, which suffered severe damage during the 9.2 magnitude Alaskan earthquake-triggered tsunami in 1964 and is now classified as a critical alert zone.