Tsunami evacuation orders lifted in Hawaii and US West Coast as Russia quake threat eases

What began as a terrifying wave of alerts turned into a global sigh of relief. Following an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, countries across the Pacific Rim scrambled to respond, fearing destructive tsunamis. Hawaii, California, and even South American nations activated coastal evacuations as waves began to arrive.



The quake struck with historic force, but Russian authorities reported minimal damage inland. The real fear was offshore: tsunami waves capable of flooding entire coastlines.


In Hawaii, tsunami waves started arriving just after 7 p.m. local time, triggering full-scale evacuation orders across inundation zones. Emergency officials initially prepared for worst-case flooding scenarios and advised people to stay far from the shore.


However, by early morning, the threat was downgraded. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the evacuation order had been lifted, though she urged returning residents to remain cautious and inspect for damage. State authorities reiterated that while widespread flooding was not expected, lingering dangers still remained in and around the water.



From Los Angeles to Oregon, beaches were closed and tsunami advisories were issued. By Wednesday, Los Angeles County beaches reopened, and advisories in San Diego and Orange Counties were also dropped. However, one stretch, from the Oregon border to the Humboldt-Del Norte line, remained under advisory due to residual wave activity.

Officials reminded residents that tsunami waves are not one-and-done, they can come in sets, spaced minutes or even hours apart.



The shockwaves extended far beyond US shores. Chile and Colombia ordered evacuations, including remote areas like Easter Island. Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands also received alerts. Meanwhile, French Polynesia’s Marquesas Islands saw lower wave impact than feared, prompting cancellation of their tsunami alert.

Even Oregon’s underwater Axial Seamount volcano mistakenly triggered automated alerts, though it showed no actual volcanic activity.



Though warnings have eased, the quake served as a reminder of how fast a seismic event in Russia can send the world scrambling. Coastal residents are urged to stay informed, heed future alerts, and respect the unpredictable nature of tsunami-generating quakes.