A major tsunami is no longer expected to hit Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has said, after initial waves struck the islands following a powerful magnitude-8.8 earthquake off Russia's eastern coast. The warning for the state was downgraded to a tsunami advisory on Wednesday morning, with evacuation orders lifted and no reports of major damage.
The highest recorded waves in Hawaii reached up to 1.8 metres (6ft). Tsunami warning sirens had sounded on Tuesday evening local time in Honolulu, prompting evacuations of some coastal areas. The US Coast Guard advised boats to leave port, and airports were briefly closed before reopening.
The earthquake struck early Wednesday in Russia, generating tsunami waves of up to 4 metres on its east coast and damaging buildings. Evacuation warnings were issued across most of Japan's east coast, though Japan's Meteorological Agency later downgraded its warnings to advisories. Parts of California's coast remained under tsunami warnings and advisories, with the National Weather Service reporting a rapid surge at Port San Luis.
Tsunami advisories were also in effect for coastal areas of Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Canada's British Columbia. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that all coasts could remain hazardous to swimmers and boaters due to sea level changes, powerful waves and strong currents.
