Tsunami alert sirens in Honolulu as residents evacuate after massive Russia quake triggers Pacific warnings.
A huge earthquake of 8.7 magnitude hit close to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula early on Wednesday, triggering extensive tsunami alerts in the Pacific. Nonetheless, India's Tsunami Warning Centre, which is run by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), has established that the quake does not pose a threat to India or the Indian Ocean area.
In an official report, INCOIS reassured that even if the earthquake was severe and warning signals had been sounded in a number of countries, Indian coasts are not affected. "There is no threat of tsunami to India or the Indian Ocean region in relation to this earthquake," said the agency.
The quake, initially at 8.7 on the scale, was revised by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) later to 8.8. It prompted tsunami warnings in various Pacific countries, such as Japan, the US, and New Zealand.
Afterwards, the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, released an advisory to Indian nationals living in the Tsunami affected areas, particularly along the US West Coast, California, and Hawaii.
Indian nationals in California, other US West Coast states, and Hawaii are instructed to do the following:
The consulate also offered an emergency helpline number: +1-415-483-6629.
Tsunami warning sirens sounded in Honolulu, resulting in evacuations as residents were asked to move to higher ground. Both the US National Tsunami Warning Center and Japanese officials are closely watching wave movement and evaluating possible dangers.
As of yet, no major damage or casualties have been reported, but warnings continue in at-risk coastal areas.
