Tsunami Waves Hit California After Major Pacific Earthquake

An extremely powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia in the North Pacific triggered widespread tsunami warnings and evacuations across Hawaii, Alaska, California, and Japan. Tsunami waves began reaching the West Coast of the United States, including California and Washington State, shortly before 1 a.m. local time. Authorities in California closed beaches, docks, and harbors due to dangerous currents, with Crescent City expecting waves up to five feet. In Hawaii, residents evacuated to higher ground, and airport flights were canceled. Workers at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant also evacuated low-lying areas. The earthquake's epicenter was near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, and the resulting waves were anticipated to impact coastal regions across the Pacific, including South America.