The tsunami warning in Hawaii has now been downgraded to an advisory after a massive earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck off Russia’s far eastern coast near the Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday night.
The earthquake triggered tsunami waves and sparked evacuation orders across the Pacific on Wednesday.
While the U.S. mainland isn’t directly in the path of the tsunami, California has issued public safety warnings. People are being asked to stay off beaches and away from low-lying coastal areas.
No widespread evacuations have been ordered, but the situation is being closely watched. The U.S. Coast Guard in Hawaii has already ordered ships out of harbors as a precaution.
Flights from the mainland U.S. bound for Hawaii have been delayed, diverted, or turned back. Both Hawaiian Airlines and its parent brand Alaska Airlines have stopped flights heading to the islands and are offering flexible travel options for passengers.
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