Tsunami Warning Live Updates: Chile Declares Red Alert For Coastal Regions; Volcano Erupts In Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that all government services have been mobilised to protect residents in French Polynesia as tsunami waves approach. In a social media statement, Macron expressed solidarity with the people of the Marquesas Islands and others in the Pacific, saying, “My full support to the Marquesans and all our compatriots in the Pacific.”

Tsunami alerts have been lifted for most parts of Alaska and Southern California following earlier warnings triggered by seismic activity. A tsunami warning remains in effect for a 40-mile section of Northern California's coastline. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as coastal areas gradually receive the all-clear.

Chile’s national disaster agency, Senapred, has issued a tsunami red alert for coastal areas spanning from Arica and Parinacota in the north to Magallanes in the south. The alert signals a full mobilisation of emergency resources and the initiation of evacuation procedures due to the seriousness of the threat.

The Klyuchevskoy volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula began erupting after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast on Wednesday. The Russian Academy of Sciences’ United Geophysical Service confirmed the eruption, noting a descent of burning lava and powerful explosions on the volcano’s western slope. 

Japan has lifted all previously issued tsunami warnings and downgraded them to a tsunami advisory, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, as reported by Reuters.

Russian authorities have lifted the tsunami warning for the Far East’s Kamchatka Peninsula, over 11 hours after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the coast. The alert had prompted widespread evacuations, but officials have now confirmed the threat has passed.

The Philippines has cancelled its tsunami advisory for several coastal areas after confirming there were no significant sea level changes or tsunami waves following the recent earthquake. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology stated that any minor disturbances have already passed, and the situation no longer poses a threat.

French Polynesia has been placed on high alert following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the Russian peninsula. Authorities warn that tsunami waves as high as 4 metres could impact the region, prompting precautionary measures across the island nation.

Colombian authorities have issued a tsunami alert for the coastal departments of Choco and Narino, with additional warnings for Cauca and the Cauca Valley. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management urged residents to evacuate beaches and low-lying areas, advising them to move to higher ground to ensure safety amid potential tsunami threats.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of rapid tidal fluctuations in the San Francisco Bay Area, with water levels rising and falling by up to 61 cm (two feet), especially near Monterey Bay. These swift tidal changes are expected to continue through the morning as tsunami waves move through the region’s waters. 

Japan has reported its first casualty related to the recent incident. A woman tragically died when her car went over a cliff while she was heading to an evacuation centre in Kumano, according to The Japan Times.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has confirmed that a major tsunami is not expected to impact Hawaii, and the earlier alert has been lifted. The tsunami threat has also subsided for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, as reported by Reuters.

The Russian authorities declared a state of emergency on the Kuril islands after the tsunami. They earlier reported that several tsunami waves flooded the fishing port of Severokurilsk, the main city on the islands, and cut power supplies to the area. The Russian authorities said that tsunami waves topping 3 meters (9.8 feet) hit Severokurilsk.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said officials observed water receding by 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) at Haleiwa Harbor on Oahu, the state’s most populous island, an indication tsunami waves will arrive. The waves pulling out left boats to lay on dry rock and sand. “That gave us pause,” Green said.

So far no damage has been recorded, but it will take two to three hours of observation before authorities will be able to determine whether the event has passed, Green said.

The Russian authorities didn’t report any significant damage on Kamchatka. The main city, Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky, is located on the coast of Avacha Bay that protected it from waves.

Russia’s Oceanology Institute said that tsunami waves might have been as high as 10-15 meters (33-49 feet) in some sections of the Kamchatka coast. It said the waves that hit Severo-Kurilsk on the Kurils topped 6 meters (19 feet).

Both Kachatka and particularly the Kurils are sparsely populated.

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami waves of up to 5 metres (16 feet) and sparked evacuation orders in Hawaii and across the Pacific on Wednesday. The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several people in the remote Russian region, while much of Japan's eastern seaboard - devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011 - was ordered to evacuate.  A resident in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky said the shaking rumbled for several minutes. "I decided to leave the building," said Yaroslav, 25. "It felt like the walls could collapse any moment. The shaking lasted continuously for at least 3 minutes. Tsunami waves struck parts of Kamchatka, partially flooding the port and a fish processing plant in the town of Severo-Kurilsk and sweeping vessels from their moorings, regional officials and Russia's emergency ministry said. "

Dozens of Steller sea lions were seen scrambling to escape rising tsunami waves on Antsiferov Island, part of Russia’s remote Kuril Islands chain. The dramatic scene was captured on video as the powerful waves surged ashore following the massive earthquake that struck off Russia’s coast.

A tsunami wave exceeding 5 feet was recorded in Kahului, located on the north-central coast of Maui, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Meanwhile, Hilo, in Hawaii County, experienced a wave measuring approximately 4.5 feet, the agency reported.

Despite tsunami warnings and major impacts expected within minutes, people are still standing along the shoreline in Hawaii, some even out on surfboards in the water. 

Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns across Japan's Pacific coast and evacuation orders were issued for tens of thousands of people. Workers evacuated the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, where a meltdown following the 2011 tsunami caused a radioactive disaster, operator TEPCO said.

In Hawaii, coastal residents were told to get to high ground or the fourth floor or above of buildings, and the U.S. Coast Guard ordered ships out of harbours as the tsunami approached. "Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves expected," the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said on X. Shortly after 0600 GMT, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said 1-1.2-metre waves were impacting the Hawaiian islands. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said so far no waves of consequence hit the islands but all flights in and out of Maui were cancelled.

New Zealand authorities issued warnings of “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges” along all coastlines of the South Pacific island nation. Waves were not expected to arrive until late Wednesday night local time, officials said.

The alert sent to New Zealanders’ phones by the government emergency management agency said people should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbors, marinas, rivers and estuaries, but officials stopped short of issuing evacuation warnings.

The province’s emergency preparedness agency said waves of less than 30 centimeters (less than 1 foot) were expected to reach Tofino around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday local time. A tsunami advisory spans much of British Columbia’s coast and the agency said “multiple waves over time” were expected. The waves are expected to first reach remote Langara Island around 10:05 p.m.

The agency said local governments should consider evacuating marinas, beaches and other areas near the ocean.

A tsunami of 2 feet arrived at Hamanaka town on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and Kuji port in Iwate on the main island, up from the earlier tsunami of 40 cm (1.3 ft), according to the JMA. A tsunami of 20 cm (7.9 inches) was detected in the Tokyo Bay, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The small Northern California community of Crescent City turned on its tsunami sirens to warn residents about possible waves. “You are hearing a Tsunami Siren. We are under a Tsunami Warning. Please stay away from beaches and waterways. A predicted wave may hit at 11:55 pm. We are waiting on additional information about any level of evacuation,” read a post from the City Hall Facebook account.

The city in rural Northern California has roughly 6,000 residents.

Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said nearly 2 million residents are now under evacuation advisories in more than 220 municipalities along the Pacific coast as of midday Wednesday. It added that one person was slightly injured on the northern island of Hokkaido when a woman in her 60s fell while rushing to evacuate. She was taken to a hospital.

Sirens blared in Honolulu as residents were urged to higher ground. “Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,” the warning stated. The first waves in Hawaii were expected around 7 p.m. local time.