From Daily Mail: Hawaii residents desperately tried to get to higher ground as the water quickly receded amid a tsunami alert following a massive earthquake in Japan.
Shocking footage captured water rapidly receding in Kauai as Hawaii officials asked people to head to higher ground ahead of a potential tsunami.
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BACKGROUND
Japan was hit by tsunami waves reaching heights of approximately five feet on Wednesday. This devastating event occurred as a result of the most powerful earthquake in 14 years, which caused millions of people to evacuate their homes. The tsunami waves struck various regions, including parts of Russia, Japan, and the United States. Waves hit northern California and Washington coasts, with the highest recorded wave in California being just under four-feet..
The earthquake that struck on Wednesday holds the sixth-highest magnitude on record. It is also the strongest earthquake in the Kamchatka region since 1952. Aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude are expected to continue in the region.
Notably, this earthquake surpasses the largest earthquake globally recorded in 2011, which was a magnitude 9.1 megaquake that struck northeast Japan, resulting in the tragic loss of 19,747 lives.
WHAT HAPPENED IN HAWAII
Residents were warned about the approaching waves. They fled in their cars in search ofhigher ground, causing a massive traffic gridlock.
While the water was observed to bereceding by 20 to 30 feet at Haleiwa Harbor on Oahu, boats were left to lay on dry rock and sand.
WATCH:
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Hawaii has downgraded the tsunami warnings and evacuation orders have been lifted across the state. A tsunami advisory remains in place.
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