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BBC MUNDO RADIO
- From: AFP, AAP, AP
- March 12, 2011
A MASSIVE 8.9-magnitude earthquake off Japan's northeastern coast triggered Pacific-wide tsunami alerts in at least 20 countries, including the US, where western states remain on high alert.
The quake forced a wall of water to descend on the Japanese coast, smashing ships into the shore and sending cars floating down city streets.
Tsunami warnings were issued in some 50 locations across the Pacific following the quake.
In Hawaii, the first waves washed up on Waikiki, with no initial reports of any damage. There were also wave surges at Waianae Harbor around 3:24am Friday (12.24am Saturday AEDT)
Sky News reported that the world-famous Waikiki beach was briefly entirely submerged, however the water did not reach the high-rise hotels.
The largest water surge occurred on Maui, where initial reports suggested waves of up to six-and-a-half feet. In Oahu, there were water surges of two-feet.
A state civil defense spokesman said that the "all-clear" would not be given until after dawn, Sky News reported.
In Oregon, coastal residents were warned to evacuate their homes before 7.00am local time (2am Saturday AEDT) by Oregon Emergency Management officials.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii earlier issued a widespread warning extending across virtually the entire Pacific Ocean, including the US west coast and South America.
Small tsunami waves hit the Philippines hours after the quake, but there were no reports of local damage or casualties.
"This looks like good news," Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director Renato Solidum said after reporting waves ranging from 30cm to one metre.
The Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency said a small tsunami reached Indonesia's eastern coastline without causing any damage.
"A tsunami of only 10 centimetres triggered by the earthquake in Japan was detected in the North Sulawesi and Maluku islands," an agency official said.
"We have just lifted the tsunami alert in Indonesia."
Australia was not in danger because it was protected by island nations to the north, including Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, that would largely absorb any wave activity, said Chris Ryan, a forecaster at the National Meteorological and Oceanographic Centre.
Other countries covered by the warnings include Russia, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
The Hawaii warning was closely followed by warnings and alerts issued across California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
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