𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The first tsunami waves have reached the west coast of the US.

The US National Weather Service has recorded a number of waves in the Arena Cove and Monterey area in California.

Briton Rich Hill, 49, from Derbyshire who lives on Maui with his Hawaiian wife and children, was among those who had packed up, ready to evacuate.

He said: “We live in Kihei, South Maui, about ¾ of a mile from the shore. The first reports were really worrying, especially when the size of the earthquake was reported. Our family was scattered across the island so we all got home as quickly as we could. We packed overnight bags but decided to stay home because we were just outside the evacuation zone.

“The tsunami is passing across the islands right now. I think – hope – the worst is passed but we have a long night ahead. The sirens and the information systems put in place since the Lahaina fire 2 years ago were excellent today. Everyone has had good time to get to higher ground or to the shelters that have been set up.

“We are hoping that everyone stays safe as the smaller waves come in, and also that people stay out of the water because the currents are so strong. Fortunately the schools are still out for summer, and we are being advised to stay home as the rest of the wave train passes us.”

On the west coast of the US, the National Weather Service is telling people to avoid beaches, harbours and marinas.

Waves were expected to begin to arrive in California around an hour ago, reaching San Francisco Bay at around 12:40am local time and 1am in Los Angeles Harbour.

More tsunami waves have been recorded hitting Hawaii.

A 5.7ft wave was recorded on Kahului, Maui at a similar time a 4.9ft wave was recorded in Hilo, Hawaii.

A 3.9ft wave was also recorded in Hanalei, Maui.

It comes after a 4ft wave was recorded at Haleiwa, Oahu earlier this morning.

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 11.55pm [local time]. 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.

A tsunami in 1964 caused by an earthquake in Alaska caused a wave 21ft high to hit the city, killing 11 people and destroying its downtown.

Hawaii governor Josh Green says tsunami waves are yet to be recorded past Big Island and that there has not yet been a wave of major consequence.

All commercial harbours have been shut and all flights scheduled to depart or arrive at Maui airport have been cancelled, he said.

He added that airports have not yet been impacted by the waves.

The governor said data from Midway Atoll, which is between Japan and Hawaii, measured waves from peak to trough of 6ft.

The height of tsunami waves in the Russian Pacific town of Severo-Kurilsk exceeded three metres, and the most powerful was as big as five metres, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday.

Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific coast after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake jolted Russia’s far east during the early hours of Wednesday.