8.8-magnitude quake triggers mass p and evacuations: Here's why Japan and Hawaii’s tsunami warnings were suddenly downgraded

Japan and Hawaii issued and then downgraded tsunami warnings on Wednesday following one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in recent years, an 8.8 magnitude undersea quake off Russia’s sparsely populated Far East coast. As waves spread across the Pacific Ocean, evacuation orders triggered widespread panic in several countries.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake struck near the Kuril Islands at a shallow depth of about 21 kilometres, making it powerful enough to generate tsunami waves. Coastal alerts were activated across Japan, Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast, and as far as British Columbia.


According to BBC News, a tsunami of 3 to 4 meters hit Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, flooding some ports but causing no severe damage. In Japan, waves reached 60 cm in Hokkaido, and traffic came to a standstill in Tokyo and coastal towns as people rushed inland. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed at least one person was injured.

In Japan, nearly two million coastal residents were evacuated after waves up to 60 cm (2 ft) were recorded on Hokkaido and Honshu’s east coast. Within hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded warnings to advisories in most areas south of Fukushima. Though northern regions still remain cautious, the alerts have been changed to advisories, according to The Associated Press and BBC News.

In Hawaii, initial warnings for Oahu and the Big Island were lifted by early morning, though a tsunami advisory remained. James Barros of Hawaii Emergency Management told CNN, “Stay off the beaches and out of the water. Strong currents can still be dangerous.” Honolulu saw gridlocked roads as residents evacuated even from non-coastal zones.


Tsunami specialists warn that danger doesn’t end after the first wave. “A tsunami is a series of powerful waves over several hours,” said Dave Snider from the National Tsunami Warning Centre, as quoted by Reuters. Waves may travel as fast as a jetliner across oceans, but slow and build height as they near land.


Russia’s Emergency Ministry confirmed several minor injuries as residents scrambled from buildings. The New York Times also reported that a hospital patient was hurt while jumping out of a window during tremors. A cancer clinic in Kamchatka resumed surgery moments after the quake rocked their operating room, a video that has since gone viral on social media.

Meanwhile, the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka remain under a state of emergency. Authorities have warned of potential aftershocks up to 7.5 magnitude in the next 48 hours, per the TASS news agency.