Editor's Note: With about 20 minutes
left before a tsunami is expected to hit Hawaii, it's a race against
time for residents to rush inland. Waves between 3 and 7 feet
are expected to lash the islands, beginning about 10:28 p.m. local time
Saturday (4:28 a.m. Sunday ET). The tsunami was triggered by a sizable 7.7-magnitude earthquake in western Canada, headed toward them. Here is the full story.
Here are the latest developments:
[Update 4:28 a.m.] As the clock ticks closer, the
sense of urgency is palpable, says CNN's Augie Martin. Planes are flying
overhead, illuminating their spotlight on the coast as they fly.
[Update 4:14 a.m.] Peter Carlisle, the mayor of
Honolulu, issued an urgent and dire last-minute warning: If you haven't
evacuated yet, don't count on the police to come and help you. Because
with the tsunami expected to hit just minutes from now, officers in
low-lying areas have also been told to seek safety.
Meanwhile, Shelly K
unishige of the Hawaii State Civil Defense said she hopes the word has gotten out and people have heeded.
"People are evacuating, the roads are somewhat congested. We didn't
have had as much lead time as we have had with previous tsunami warnings
and this is under the cover of night and this has slowed down the
process somewhat," she told CNN.
[Update 4:10 a.m.] The tsunami advisory
has been canceled for southeast Alaska. But it continues for British Columbia, southern Oregon and northern California.
[Update 3:49 a.m.] Neil Abercrombie, the governor of
Hawaii, has just signed an emergency proclamation. Such a proclamation
hands the governor emergency powers to deal with natural and man-made
disasters or emergencies.
[Update 3:44 a.m.] The Honolulu neighborhood of Waikiki was hosting a blocks-long Halloween party,
Hallowbaloo,
where 15,000 people were expected. Frank Bridgewater, editor of the
Honolulu Star-Advertiser, told CNN he wondered how that many people were
pulling out ahead of the tsunami's arrival.
[Update 3:26 a.m.] If you're in Hawaii, you can access evacuation maps
here
[Update 3:23 a.m.] "There's
no reason to panic but there's every reason to take necessary
precautions," said Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle. He asked residents not
to clog traffic, but it may be too late. Local television are showing
images of bumper-to-bumper traffic on roads leading from the coast to
inner ground.
[Update 3:18 a.m.] About 80,000 people live in
evacuations zones in the island of Oahu, which is home to Honolulu. John
Cummings, spokesman for the Honolulu Emergency Management, said
officials have opened 26 centers for evacuees.
[Update 2:48 a.m.] Residents in Hawaii are taking the authorities' urging seriously - and making preparations accordingly:
[Update 2:31 a.m.] There have been about 9 aftershocks, most of them greatly lower than the initial quake in magnitude.
[Update 2:16 a.m.] CNN's Augie Martin who is in Big
Island just sent this e-mail: "We are currently in Hawaii and tsunami
sirens are now blaring, FYI."
[Update 2:09 a.m.] Hawaii can expect waves between 3
and 7 feet, said Gerard Fryer, senior geophysicist at the Pacific
Tsunami Warning Center. "We are recommending coastal evacuation," he
said.
[Update 2:02 a.m.] The National Weather Service now says that a tsunami ADVISORY has been
expanded to include northern California and southern Oregon.
Bear in mind, this is an advisory, NOT a warning. An advisory means a
tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to
people near the water is expected.
[Update 1:45 a.m.] Here's a recap: A large quake has
hit off the coast of Canada. We have just received news that a tsunami
warning has been issued as far as Hawaii. If you know you're in an
evacuation zone in Hawaii, you need to pack up and move out.
In a little less than three hours, about 10:38 Hawaii time, the first waves will hit Hawaii.
What areas of Hawaii? The towns of Kahului and Hilo are likely to see a
succession of waves. The shorelines will be dangerous for a couple of
hours. "Basically this tsunami is pointed right at us," said Gerard
Fryer,
senior geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
[Update 1:32 a.m.] The
#PrayforCanada hashtag has become a worldwide trending topic on Twitter.
[Update 1:25 a.m.] A tsunami warning has now been
issued for the state of Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
[Update 1:05 a.m.] Julianne McCaffrey
of British Columbia Emergency Management is on CNN International right
now. She says officials are watching the coastal areas and ensuring
people are complying with the directives of local authorities. "We've
not received any reports at this time of any damage."
[Update 1:05 a.m.] The National Weather Service just issued this photo:
[Update 12:44 a.m.] Fryer also clarified exactly
what area the tsunami warning encompasses: It is for coast of British
Columbia, from Vancouver to the southern panhandle of Alaska. Hawaii is
NOT under warning.
[Update 12:38 a.m.] Gerard Fryer,
senior geophysicist at
the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was just on CNN International and
put the magnitude of the quake into perspective - while at the same
allaying much of the concern.
"A 7.7 is a big, hefty earthquake. It’s not something you can
ignore," he said. But, he added, "this earthquake was partly under the
island and mostly under shallow water."
"I think we have to be thankful it happened where it did . .. if that
were a heavily populated area, it would have caused significant
damage," he said. "It definitely would have done significant damage if
it had been under a city."
[Update 12:31 a.m.] A small tsunami has been recorded on a deep ocean pressure sensor, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The warning region remains the same.
[Update 12:23 a.m.] Julianne McCaffrey with Emergency Management BC tells CNN there are no reports of damage at this time.
[Update 12:12 a.m.] Some possible good news:
[Update 12:12 a.m.] The USGS is now reporting
a second aftershock: Magnitude 4.8 about 126 miles south of Masset.
[Update 12:02 a.m.] Some coastal areas in Hawaii may
feel small non-destructive sea level changes and strong currents for
the next several hours, said the
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
[Update 12 a.m.] A 5.8-magnitude aftershock was felt 96 miles south of Masset, Canada, according to the
USGS.
[Update 11:56 p.m.] More from Englehard:
He said he has not seen any major damage in his town; just a broken window. The shaking lasted for a while, he said.
[Update 11:52 p.m.] Fritz Engelhard, who lives in
Masset, British Columbia, said he felt the tremor even though his town
is 86 miles from the epicenter. Residents have been asked to seek higher
ground because of the tsunami warning, he said.
[Update 11:47 p.m.] The tweets started populating the Twitter timeline as soon as residents felt the tremor.
[Update 11:46 p.m.] The tsunami warning is in effect
for the coastal areas of British Columbia and Alaska - from the north
tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to Cape Decision, Alaska.
Such a warning means that all residents in those coastal regions should
move immediately inland to higher ground.
[Update 11:43 p.m.] The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning.
[Posted at 11:40 p.m.] A 7.7-magnitude quake struck
off the coast of Queen Charlotte Islands in Canada late Saturday, the
U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake had a depth of 10.9 miles.
