Tsunami Waves Hit Hawaii After Massive Earthquake Off Russia Triggers Evacuations Across Pacific
No casualties reported in Russia as French Polynesia braces for 4-metre waves; nuclear facilities in Pacific safe, IAEA confirms
Tsunami waves reached parts of Hawaii on Wednesday after a powerful undersea earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations across the Pacific region. The quake, which struck overnight, sent ripples of fear through vulnerable coastal communities, especially those still haunted by memories of the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.
Authorities in French Polynesia issued urgent evacuation orders after tsunami waves as high as 4 metres were forecast to hit parts of the Marquesas Islands. According to local officials, the waves were expected to reach Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva, and Hiva Oa at around 00:57 a.m. local time (1027 GMT). Other islands in the remote Marquesas chain were warned to brace for waves between 0.60 and 0.90 metres high.
Residents were urged to seek higher ground and secure or remove boats from the shore. The Marquesas Islands, with a population of about 9,500, are among the most isolated communities in the world. Major settlements include Taiohae on Nuku Hiva and Atuona on Hiva Oa. French Polynesia spans 4,200 square kilometers and is composed of 118 islands spread across five archipelagos in the South Pacific.
In Russia, the epicenter of the earthquake, the Kremlin confirmed that there were no casualties reported. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov credited the absence of injuries to the sturdy construction of buildings in the Kamchatka region and the efficient operation of emergency alert systems.
Amid widespread tsunami alerts, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday that no nuclear facilities across the Pacific coast had reported safety issues. The agency cited initial assessments indicating no impact on nuclear safety in the region.
The announcement helped ease fears that the disaster could trigger a repeat of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis, when a 9.0-magnitude quake led to a tsunami that overwhelmed safety systems at the Japanese power plant, resulting in a radioactive emergency and the deaths of more than 15,000 people.
In Japan, tsunami warnings sent thousands of residents along the Pacific coast rushing to higher ground, recalling the grim events of March 11, 2011. Many residents acted swiftly, guided by hard-learned lessons from the past.
“When the earthquake struck before, everyone evacuated to higher ground, so I thought about doing the same,” one woman in Fukushima told public broadcaster NHK.
At the Fukushima nuclear facility, workers suspended decommissioning operations and evacuated to safety. A spokesperson said the move was precautionary and posed no current safety concerns.
Despite intense summer heat, residents, many still haunted by the “3.11” tragedy, did not hesitate to climb to safer locations. “I was at the same post office 14 years ago,” a postal worker in Iwate prefecture told NHK. “This time, all of us said ‘let’s evacuate quickly.’”
An official from the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that tsunami waves could continue to arrive for a day or more, urging coastal populations to remain alert and follow evacuation guidelines.
As the Pacific Basin remains on edge, officials across multiple countries continue to monitor the situation closely, hoping that swift evacuation efforts and improved early-warning systems will avert a repeat of past tragedies.
Written By Rodney Mbua
