Hawaii Tsunami Key Updates: Flights cancelled, harbours shut, Hawaii governor warns of…, US weather service says…

New Delhi: In a major development, the US National Weather Service has reported that tsunami waves are now impacting the state of Hawaii, and urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property. This comes after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Far East on Wednesday. The massive quake triggered Tsunami in the northern Pacific and prompting alerts from Alaska and Hawaii to coastal regions as far south as New Zealand.

The US National Weather Service shared further warnings about what conditions to expect and the dangers involved.

“A tsunami is a series of long waves. Each individual wave can last 5 to 15 minutes or more and extensively flood coastal areas. The danger may persist for many more hours as wave activity continues,” the weather service said.

“Tsunami waves efficiently wrap around islands, so all shores are at risk no matter which direction they face. Extremely strong and unusual nearshore currents can accompany a tsunami. Debris picked up and carried by a tsunami amplifies its destructive power. Simultaneous high tides or high surf can significantly increase the tsunami hazard,” it added.

The Department of Transportation in Hawaii says all flights to and from Kahului Airport, the main airport in Maui, have been cancelled. In a social media post, the department said passengers have been sheltering in the terminal. “In the morning, those sheltering will be re-screened prior to departures,” it added.

Tsunami alert issued in THESE countries across the world

Tsunami warnings or advisories have been issued for: Russia, Japan, Taiwan, The Philippines, China, Hawaii, Guam, California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Canada.

‘No wave of consequence so far’ in Hawaii: Governor

  • Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green has just given an update on the situation.

Here are key takeaways:

  • Local authorities have not seen a wave of consequence so far
  • No wave activities have been seen coming past the big island.
  • While there have been no reports of damage
  • Authorities expect to wait up to four hours before being able to assess that the situation is safe: “We are not yet in the clear.”
  • As of now, there are no plans to shut off any power in advance.
  • Airports have not been affected, but all flights from and to Maui have been cancelled for tonight.

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