Millions return home as tsunami warnings lifted: Live updates
Tsunami warnings in Hawaii, parts of California and Japan downgraded
A tsunami sent waves into parts of Japan, Hawaii and the US after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Russian Far East on Wednesday.
The quake was one of the biggest ever recorded. Several people were injured, but none gravely. No major damage has been reported.
The danger appeared to be subsiding in most places, but Chile kept alerts at the highest level for most of its lengthy Pacific coast while New Zealand renewed a warning to avoid the water.
Japan was one of the last countries to rescind the emergency order earlier today.
Almost two million people had been ordered to higher ground in Japan before the warnings were downgraded to an advisory for large stretches of its Pacific coast,
One person died and 10 others, most of them in Hokkaido, were injured while heading shelter following the tsunami alert in Japan.
A woman in her 50s died after falling from a cliffside road while driving to an evacuation center in central Japan's Mie Prefecture.
Authorities in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru this morning dropped the tsunami alerts.
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Evacuation orders lifted in Hawaii
The worst of the tsunami threat appears to be over in Hawaii, as evacuation orders are lifted in the region.
The warning has been downgraded to an advisory, meaning dangerous waves are no longer expected to impact the state.
The state’s emergency management agency said: “Dangerous conditions are still possible in near-shore waters within the Hawaiian Islands. Use extreme caution when near or on the water.
“Residents and visitors who evacuated may return home at this time. Please use caution and patience as traffic will likely remain heavy.”
Pictured: Waves hit Shiogama in Japan
3.6ft waves recorded in California
Some more waves have been recorded in California as tsunami warnings remains in place on the US west coast.
A wave of 3.6ft was observed at Crescent City, according to the US National Weather Service.
First tsunami wave is not usually the worst, warns expert
The Independent’s Bryony Gooch reports:
Professor Ilan Kelman from UCL's department of Risk and Disaster Reduction has warned that the first tsunami wave is not usually the worst.
"We've had situations where it's like, oh yeah, there's a tsunami warning, a tsunami comes in and people say, 'Oh, that wasn't too bad. Let me go back down to the sea', but then the second and the third waves are usually the worst.
"In the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the second and third waves were by far the most destructive and caused most deaths, and some people were caught out by saying, 'oh, that was a tsunami? that was nothing', and then the other waves come in and cause the problems."
Mapped: Regions facing worst tsunami threat after massive earthquake off Russia
If you're only just joining us:
If you are only just joining us, here is a summary of what has happened so far:
- An 8.8 magnitude earthquake, believed to be one of the strongest on record, hit eastern Russia.
- The tremor triggered tsunami warnings and evacuation orders across the Pacific, including in Russia, Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast.
- The biggest wave so far reached 16ft in the coastal areas of the disputed Kuril Islands shortly after the earthquake.
- Some time later, smaller waves began to reach Hawaii, California and Japan.
- Hawaii has since removed evacuation orders as the state and Japan downgraded warnings to advisories.
Warnings of 4m waves in French Polynesia
Authorities in French Polynesia warned some residents to expect tsunami waves up to 4 metres high in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
They said the waves would reach several of the Marquesas Islands including Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa at 00:57am local time (10:27am GMT).
Other islands in the Marquesas are expected to experience wave heights between 0.60 m and 0.90 m, the local government said.
Waves continue to hit California
Tsunami waves are continuing to hit the coast of California, authorities have said.
The Bay Area weather service said tidal swings of 2 to 2.5 ft have been spotted in the San Francisco area.
It said: “This can create some seriously dangerous currents along beaches and harbors. It's just a good idea to stay away from the water today!”
Is it safe to travel to California? Latest advice after tsunami warning for US west coast
Tsunami waves have started to reach the US west coast after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday, causing tsunami waves to roll towards countries around the Pacific Rim.
A wave of 3.6ft was observed at Crescent City as the tsunami reached California in the early hours of Wednesday morning local time.
Here’s what to know if you are travelling in or out of the west coast of the US as the tsunami hits the shoreline.
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