Panic and confusion gripped Hawaii on Wednesday after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
The early morning quake was so powerful that it was felt around the entire region and triggered mass evacuations and panic scenes on the coastlines of Japan, Russia and the U.S. West Coast.
The USGS has reported that the quake was shallow in depth and with such intensity that it caused tsunami waves up to 13 feet (4 meters) striking the Kamchatka coast. Following the ripple effect, warnings and alerts lit up mobile phones and emergency systems across Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, and parts of California.
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Hawaiians flee to higher ground amid tsunami warning
Now, in Hawaii, gridlocked roads, wailing sirens, and crowds of residents rushing to higher ground painted a picture of chaos as people scrambled for safety.
{{/usCountry}}Now, in Hawaii, gridlocked roads, wailing sirens, and crowds of residents rushing to higher ground painted a picture of chaos as people scrambled for safety.
{{/usCountry}}“My parents live right on the beach in Honolulu and are expecting 15 ft tsunami to hit in 2 hours… please please keep my family in your prayers tonight,” one resident wrote in a plea for support.
Social media was flooded with real-time updates and posts. “This is what it looks like when you can’t escape an island as a tsunami approaches. Gridlocked roads. Sirens wailing. No way out except up. Hawaii is under full tsunami warning. This is the nightmare scenario,” another shared.
“Friend is in Hawaii and sent me this photo of people at the store trying to grab supplies after the tsunami warning,” one user shared.
“Praying for my grandson in Hawaii as a tsunami bears down on the Islands caused by an earthquake in Russia. Impact expected at 1:15 am ET,” wrote NYT bestselling author Roger Stone.
“Traffic is at a near standstill in Honolulu as residents attempt to flee to higher ground ahead of the approaching tsunami. Pray for Hawaii. 🙏” one shared.
“Roads on Maui are GRIDLOCKED as people try to escape the incoming Tsunami,” another posted.