Tsunami Advisory Issued for American Samoa, Watch Issued for Hawaii
Disaster Alert
March 4, 2021
Source: The Weather Channel
At a Glance
- A magnitude-8 earthquake north of New Zealand prompted the tsunami alerts.
- It was one of three major earthquakes that struck off New Zealand.
- Authorities warned people on New Zealand’s coast to “MOVE IMMEDIATELY to the nearest high ground.”
Tsunami waves could be headed for Hawaii and American Samoa after a third major earthquake struck off northern New Zealand, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned Thursday.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students, workers and residents fled to higher ground on New Zealand’s North Island after the magnitude-8.1 earthquake struck at 8:28 a.m. Friday (2:28 p.m. Thursday EST) near the country’s Kermadec Islands.
“A tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a post.
There is a threat of sea-level fluctuations and strong ocean currents that could be a hazard along beaches, in harbors and in coast waters of American Samoa, the center said. The earliest a tsunami could reach American Samoa would be at 10:19 a.m. Thursday (4:19 p.m. EST).
“All residents along the coasts must evacuate immediately to higher grounds,” the National Weather Service said. American Samoa is about 1,700 miles northeast of New Zealand.
In a separate post, the Tsunami Warning Center said, “An investigation is underway to determine if there is a tsunami threat to Hawaii.”
The earliest a tsunami wave could reach Hawaii is 4:35 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (9:35 p.m EST), the center said.
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