A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific region. The first tsunami waves have already reached Hawaii, with a 4-foot (1.2-meter) wave recorded off the coast of Oahu.
Authorities in Hawaii, parts of the U.S. West Coast, and Japan have issued evacuation orders as a precaution against further waves. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has urged residents to remain calm and follow official evacuation instructions, while U.S. President Donald Trump has advised Americans to stay alert to evolving tsunami warnings.
In Japan, the Meteorological Agency reported that approximately 1.9 million people have been ordered to evacuate. A tsunami wave measuring 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) has already reached Iwate Prefecture in the country’s north.
Tsunami alerts of varying severity have also been issued in several other regions, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Guam, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador.
Authorities across the Pacific Rim are closely monitoring the situation as aftershocks and further tsunami activity remain possible.