A Tsunami Advisory is now in effect for British Columbia’s coastal Zones A through D, including the north coast, Haida Gwaii, central coast, northeast Vancouver Island, the west coast of Vancouver Island, and the Juan de Fuca Strait. The alert follows a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck at 4:24 p.m. Pacific Time, located about 136 km southeast of Petropavlovsk, Russia, off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Aleutian Islands region.
The US Tsunami Warning System has confirmed a wave, with max wave heights around 1 foot above the tide level recorded in parts of Japan and Russia around 5:14PM Pacific Time.
The wave is expected to reach Langara Island, off the northwest coast of Haida Gwaii, by 10:05PM PST, and Tofino, on Vancouver Island’s west coast, by 11:30PM PST. Max wave heights at both locations are expected to be less than 1-foot above the tide level.
Residents are urged to stay off beaches, out of the water, and away from harbors, inlets, and marinas. Strong currents or waves may pose a danger even without widespread flooding. Boat operators should head to deeper water if conditions allow. Do not go to the shore to observe the tsunami and do not call 9-1-1 unless it’s an emergency.
Officials will update the situation as new information becomes available. Stay tuned to emergency alerts and follow instructions from local authorities.
British Columbia’s Tsunami Notification Zones A and B are within the boundaries of the North Coast Regional District, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, and the District of Kitimat. Voyent alerts indicating an Tsunami Advisory was in place had been issued in each jurisdiction by 7:00PM.
The quake’s epicenter is located at latitude 52.2, longitude 160.0.
This article has been updated with the latest details.
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