Tsunami

Mega-tsunami on the horizon? US coastal states may have only 10-min to flee

A massive earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone could trigger a devastating mega-tsunami, threatening Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest with little warning

7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Tonga Islands, aftershocks expected

The Tonga Trench is the place where the Pacific and Australian plates meet. The motion of these two plates has created one of the most seismogenic ("earthquake making") regions in the world

Tsunami warning lifted in Hawaii after 7.1 earthquake, no damage reported

A strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Tonga, prompting an initial tsunami warning that was later lifted for the Pacific island country. The US Geological Survey said the quake hit about 100 kilometres northeast of the main island in the early morning hours of Monday local time. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued an alert saying hazardous waves could be possible but later said there was no longer a tsunami threat. Tsunami sirens could be heard after the 1:18 am quake urging residents to move inland, according to the Talanoa o Tonga news site. There were no initial reports of damage. Residents in the Ha'apai island group had calmly moved to higher ground, the report said. Tonga is a country in Polynesia made up of 171 islands with a population of a little more than 100,000 people, most of whom live on the main island of Tongatapu. It is more than 3,500 kilometres off Australia's east coast.

Magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits southwestern Japan; tsunami threat lifted

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has hit southwestern Japan, the country's Meteorological Agency said Monday. Tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture, where the temblor was centred, in the southwestern island of Kyushu, as well as nearby Kochi Prefecture, shortly after the quake struck at 9:19 pm local time, according to the agency. The extent of damage was not immediately clear. Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes because of its location along the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

2004 Indian Ocean tsunami set off work to be ready for the next big wave

That changed the day after Christmas in 2004, when a 9.1-magnitude earthquake west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra set off a mammoth wave that was recorded as high as 16 stories

Strong earthquake strikes off California, tsunami warning cancelled

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the US West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California's Monterey Bay north into Oregon. It was a strong quake, our building shook, we're fine but I have a mess to clean up right now, said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed wit

World Tsunami Awareness Day 2024: History, significance, theme and more

World Tsunami Awareness Day is celebrated every year on November 5 to boost people's understanding of the harmful effects of tsunamis and the safety measures during tsunamis

Small tsunami waves wash ashore on remote Japanese islands post earthquake

Small tsunami waves washed ashore on remote Japanese islands on Tuesday morning after an earthquake that may have been triggered by volcanic activity. The offshore quake was not felt, and the tsunami advisory was lifted about three hours later. No damage or injuries were reported. The Japan Meteorological Agency had advised that waves up to 1 metre (yard) above tide levels could occur on the coasts of the Izu and Ogasawara island chains after the magnitude 5.9 quake occurred off the Izu Islands. The US Geological Survey measured the quake's strength at 5.6 magnitude. About 21,500 people live on the islands in the Izu group and about 2,500 on the Ogasawara Islands. JMA said a tsunami of about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) was detected in the Yaene district on Hachijo Island about 30 minutes after the quake. Smaller waves were detected on three other islands Kozushima, Miyakejima and Izu Oshima. The offshore quake occurred about 180 kilometers (111 miles) south of Hachijo island

7.0 magnitude quake hits off far east coast of Russia, no reports of damage

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck in the Pacific off the far eastern coast of Russia near a major naval base early Sunday, but there were no early reports of damage or injuries. The quake prompted a tsunami warning that was later lifted. The earthquake occurred 18 miles (29 kilometres) below the surface and its epicenter was about 63 miles (102 kilometers) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the US Geological Survey said. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is a port city of more than 181,000 people surrounded by volcanoes and sits across a bay from an important Russian submarine base. The US National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Honolulu initially warned that hazardous tsunami waves were possible for coasts within 300 miles (480 kilometres) of the earthquake epicentre, but later announced the threat had ended. The centre said minor sea level fluctuations could occur in some coastal areas near the earthquake site for several hours.

Japan issues its first 'megaquake' warning after powerful tremors in Kyushu

A megaquake in what's known as the Nankai trough could surpass the damage from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northern coast of the main island of Honshu

WATCH: Taiwan earthquake turns swimming pool in Taipei into massive waves

In the video clip circulating on social media, a man can be seen caught up in the pool amid the heavy waves caused by the earthquake

Taiwan's strongest earthquake leaves 9 dead, 934 injured, dozens stranded

Taiwan is regularly jolted by quakes and its population is among the best prepared for them, but authorities said they had expected a relatively mild earthquake and accordingly did not send out alerts

Taiwan's strong earthquake leaves roads cracked, buildings tilted: WATCH

Taiwan experienced its biggest earthquake in 25 years, which occurred 25 km south-southeast of Hualien County Hall at a depth of 15.5 km

Amid Tsunami threat, Japan issues evacuation advisory for coastal areas

The tsunami threat from a strong earthquake that struck Taiwan has largely passed. The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded its forecast from 3 metres (9.8 feet) to 1 metre (3.3 feet). One island had a wave of about 30 centimetres (a foot), while smaller waves were detected in other islands. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there has been no report of injury or damage in Japan. He urged the residents in the Okinawa region to stay on safe ground until all tsunami advisories were lifted. China issued no warnings for the Chinese mainland, and there was no threat for Hawaii and Guam. More than two hours after the 7.4 magnitude quake struck Taiwan, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the threat of a tsunami has largely passed. The quake damaged buildings on Taiwan but casualty information was not yet available.

Strong quake hits Taiwan, buildings collapse; Japan issues tsunami alert

A powerful earthquake struck off Taiwan early Wednesday, rocking the entire island and collapsing buildings. Japan issued a tsunami alert for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa. Japan's meteorological agency forecast a tsunami of up to 3 metres (9.8 feet). Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.5. Television showed buildings in the eastern city of Hualien shaken off their foundations. The quake came at 7:58 am and could be felt in the capital Taipei.

13 yrs since massive tsunami, Fukushima nuclear plant still sparks fears

Japan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country's northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighbouring areas. WHAT HAPPENED 13 YEARS AGO? A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, also slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2 and 3. Hydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area. The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, says that the tsunami couldn't have been anticipated. Government and independent investigati

Earthquake of magnitude 6.0 hits Japan days after New Year quake tragedy

Japan earthquake: The latest earthquake comes nearly a week after an earthquake 7.6 magnitude shook the country on New Year's Day, leaving at least 202 people dead

Rescuers race to find survivors after Japan earthquakes leave 78 dead

Rescuers braved the cold in a race against time as they searched for survivors along Japan's western coastline Thursday after a powerful earthquake earlier in the week smashed homes and left at least 78 people dead and 51 missing. A downpour and possible snow were expected, raising the risk of landslides. A list of those officially missing released overnight grew from 15 to 51 people in three cities, including a 13-year-old boy. Some earlier reported missing have been found but more names were coming in, officials said. Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas were shaken by more aftershocks, adding to the dozens that followed Monday's magnitude 7.6 temblor centered near Noto, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Tokyo on the opposite coast. The quake set off tsunami warnings, followed by waves measuring more than 1 meter (3 feet) in some places. The first 72 hours are especially critical for rescues, experts say, because the prospects for survival greatly diminish after that. More th

Japan earthquake: Roads crack, poles topple; tsunami warning issued

Japan's series of earthquakes on Monday triggered a frantic evacuation from coastal areas. The Kishida government has set up a special emergency centre to overlook the crisis

LIVE: Moscow to intensify its attacks against Ukraine, says Putin

Catch all the latest LIVE updates from across the globe here