Tsunami waves hit Hawaii
Posted March 11, 2011 7:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Tsunami waves triggered by the massive earthquake in Japan started hitting Hawaii Friday morning.
The first waves arrived just after 3 a.m. local time, or 8 a.m. EST, as was predicted.
Kauai was the first island hit, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
The Hawaiian Island chain is expected to experience two-metre waves, although the first waves were reportedly smaller than expected.
Sirens blared in the middle of the night Thursday warning people to take action. People have been scrambling to stock up on basic supplies, such as bottled water, gas, generators and canned food.
Coastal areas there have been evacuated and all harbours closed.
The tsumani, travelling at more than 800 kilometres per hour, is likely to go around the smaller islands but the size of Hawaii’s islands will amplify the waves, the Associated Press reports.
The warning came after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit northeastern Japan, sparking a tsunami there that swallowed up everything in its path. More than 50 countries are currently under a tsunami warning, including Canada.
The majority of Hawaii’s 1.4 million population lives in Honolulu, where as many as 100,000 tourists visit on a given day. Emergency centres have been established at community centres and schools.
The usually busy streets of Waikiki were nearly empty Friday and authorities ordered everyone inside hotels. Visitors at hotels were moved to the third floor and higher.
Tsunamis have struck Hawaii before, including in 1946, 1960 and 1964.
With files from The Associated Press.
