This earthquake ranks as the third strongest globally in the past 25 years and the most powerful since the devastating 2011 quake and tsunami in Japan.
"Hawaii Governor Josh Green has declared a State of Emergency, anticipating potential tsunami waves that may affect the Hawaiian Islands in the coming hours ... Severe traffic congestion is occurring across Hawaii as residents and tourists rush to evacuate coastal areas in anticipation of tsunami waves, with expected wave heights of 3 to 12 feet" as reported by Open Source Intel.
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Reports confirm that the first waves already hit Severo-Kurilsk in Russia’s Kuril Islands, where evacuations were promptly executed.
Japan’s meteorological authorities anticipate waves up to 10 feet hitting the coasts of Hokkaido and Honshu, with tsunami arrival expected in Fukushima around 11 a.m. local time.
Four whales washed ashore in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. This could have occurred "because of the rapid and dramatic changes in water levels and currents near the coast. While deep in the ocean, whales are typically unaffected by tsunami waves, when these waves approach shore, the water initially pulls back strongly, which can strand whales near the beach temporarily." (Hindustan Times)
