after 7.5 magnitude earthquake caused tsunami

Hawaii was thrown into brief chaos on Saturday night after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck, leading to a tsunami watch. The quake was linked to earlier seismic activity off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

The earthquake hit around 8:49 PM local time, with the tsunami watch issued shortly after at 9:03 PM. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later canceled the watch, saying there was no threat to Hawaii.

“Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat to the state of Hawai‘i,” the agency confirmed. They stated that no further updates would be issued unless new data emerged.

The decision to cancel the alert came after scientists analyzed seismic data to assess tsunami risks. Many Hawaiians expressed relief on social media once the watch was lifted.

Meanwhile, Russia had earlier experienced a powerful 7.3 magnitude quake near Kamchatka, followed by several others in the area, including magnitudes 7.0, 6.7, 7.4, and more, according to the USGS.

Russia’s emergency ministry had warned residents to avoid the coast despite saying the tsunami waves weren’t expected to be very high. A video showed homes shaking and people screaming as tremors hit.

Although the tsunami alert ended, locals in Hawaii advised caution. Some warned that dangerous sea surges could still occur, especially for those collecting shellfish like ‘opihi or diving near the shore.