Tsunami Strikes U.S. After Sweeping Through Japan

A tsunami triggered by a massive 8.7-magnitude earthquake in Russia has reached several coastal areas of the United States after impacting Japan.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, waves between 1 to 1.2 meters (3.3 to 3.9 feet) began hitting the Hawaiian Islands shortly after 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday. However, a later update from the center stated that there is no major tsunami threat to the state.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service in the San Francisco Bay Area, the first wave struck the coast of San Francisco, California, at 1:12 a.m. local time on Wednesday. It also reported that the coastal region of Arena Cove in the state has been affected, with waves gradually spreading to the southern coastline.

CNN reported that tsunami waves also struck the coasts of California, Washington, and Alaska. A "maximum tsunami alert" has been issued for coastal regions of California. U.S. national emergency services have urged residents of affected areas to take shelter in safe locations.

In Russia’s Kamchatka region, near the earthquake's epicenter, waves as high as 4 meters (13 feet) had already crashed ashore earlier, submerging several buildings. Thousands of people have been evacuated from the island regions.

Residents of coastal and riverside areas in Japan have also been instructed to evacuate to safe zones. However, the previously issued "maximum tsunami warning" has been downgraded to a general alert.

Tsunami Warnings Across the Pacific Region
The earthquake's epicenter was located 136 kilometers (84 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia’s Far East. It is considered one of the most powerful quakes in recent times. As a result, tsunami warnings have been issued not only in Russia but also across Latin America, East Asian coastal countries, and Pacific island nations.