Saturday, March 12, 2011
At least five people have been swept out to sea in California and Oregon after the first waves from the tsunami triggered by the Japan earthquake hit the US mainland.
Waves reaching more than six feet hit Crescent City in California, damaging vessels and harbour docks, and causing around £1.25 million in damage in Santa Cruz, according to reports.
Evacuation orders had been issued for the coastal regions in western American states and in Canada’s British Columbia, while thousands of people were ordered to leave coastal areas in Hawaii.
The tsunami alert has now been downgraded to an advisory warning in Hawaii, although officials continue to urge people to stay away from the beaches.
The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre has also downgraded its warning to an advisory.
Meanwhile, in Japan, a huge explosion has rocked a nuclear power plant after yesterday’s devastating earthquake.
Officials now fear a meltdown at one of the plant’s reactors, after radioactive material was detected outside it, and thousands of residents have been urged to evacuate.
A massive relief operation is currently underway in the rest of the country. Over 600 people are so far believed to have been killed in the earthquake, but hundreds more are missing, and the total death toll is estimated to be as many as 1,300.
The British Foreign Office said there were no reports of British casualties at this time, but it has established a crisis unit and has set up a helpline for UK nationals in Japan and their relatives back home on: +44(0)207 008 0000
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