Updated at 9:35 p.m., Friday, January 12, 2007
Tsunami watch for Hawai'i canceled
Advertiser Staff
A tsunami watch was canceled for Hawai'i tonight, but Civil Defense officials said they were concerned about a possible high surf and tide combination on O'ahu's North Shore.The tsunami watch by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was issued after 5:30 p.m. when an 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan.
That caused state and county officials to activate emergency operating centers and put police, firefighters and other emergency responders on notice that a tsunami was possible.
The watch for Hawai'i was canceled at 9:30 p.m.
Small waves of less than 4 inches related to the earthquake were recorded in Alaska and Japan, but officials warned that larger waves could still arrive.
Meanwhile, officials said that surf of up to 20 feet was expected overnight on O'ahu's North Shore. Combined with a normal high tide and any tsunami-related tidal surge, the surf could cause problems for residents living close to the beach, said O'ahu Civil Defense spokesman John Cummings.
"It's something we're watching and starting to take precautions for," he said.
The quake struck about 310 miles east of the Etorofu islands between northern Japan and Russia. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the quake.
