A tsunami caused by the eruption of an underwater volcano in Tonga hit the west coast of the United States and Canada on Saturday, with a tsunami warning still in effect, with waves in one case exceeding a meter in height and causing minor flooding. In part of California.

“Tide waves are occurring along the coast of Alaska, British Columbia (Canada) and the west coast of the United States,” he said shortly before 11:00 a.m. in that area (19:00 GMT). Her official Twitter account.

According to the National Weather Service, the warning is in effect for:

• California includes the entire coast from the border with Mexico to the border with Oregon, including San Francisco Bay
• The entire coast of Oregon.
• The outer coast of Washington, from the border with Oregon to Sleep Point, the coast of the mouth of the Columbia River.
• The coast of British Columbia, Canada.
• The inner and outer coast of southeastern Alaska, from the British Columbia border to Cape Fairweather.
• The coast of southern Alaska and the Alaskan Peninsula, from Cape Fairweather to Unimak Pass.

Waves recorded so far range from 0.2 feet in Alameda (California) to 4 feet in Port St. Louis, about 186 miles north of Los Angeles, in the same state, according to that service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The impact occurred despite the fact that the California coast is located approximately 5,400 miles away from the island of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean, where the volcanic eruption occurred.

The tsunami caused “light flooding” in the California port of Santa Cruz, with beaches closed and people evacuated from commercial areas near the coast, although no one was forced to leave their homes, he said. City manager Elizabeth Smith told CNN.

The Los Angeles Met Office said in a tweet that there was also “flooding in the parking area” near the beach in Port St. Louis, where the highest waves were recorded.

In Berkeley (California), about 110 people were evacuated from ships and ports in the coastal region, according to Berkleeside local media. Most beaches in the south of the state were closed due to the alert.

“Do not go near the coast to watch for tsunamis,” the Tsunami Warning Service stressed on its website.

This service removed the tsunami warning for Hawaii hours after it was issued, after verifying that there were no waves of this size in the US Pacific islands.

Instead, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) kept a tsunami warning in effect for California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, as well as British Columbia in Canada.

Residents of American Samoa were alerted to a tsunami warning by local radio stations, as well as by church bells that rang throughout the territory. The siren warning system was out of order. Those who lived along the coast soon moved to higher ground.

What to do if you are in a warning area

Experts recommend the following:

• Get out of the water and away from ports, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets.
• Be alert and follow the instructions of local emergency officials as they may have more detailed information.
• If you feel a strong earthquake or the ground shakes for a long time, take immediate protective measures, such as moving inside the ground and/or uphill, preferably on foot.
• Don’t go to the beach to see a tsunami.
• Don’t even go back to the beach, even the local emergency officials
  Indicates that it is safe to do so.
• boat owners,
  • When weather and conditions permit, move your boat to
    The sea is at least 180 feet deep.
  • If you are at sea, avoid entering shallow waters and ports,
    Anchors, bays and driveways to avoid floating and
    Submerged debris and strong currents.

Chile requests evacuation of Easter Island beaches

The Chilean National Emergency Office (Onemi) issued an alert this Saturday and requested the evacuation of the coasts of Easter Island, the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, San Felix Island and Antarctica after a volcano erupted near the Pacific island of Tonga.

The Chilean Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) announced via Twitter a “state of caution” which, according to the scale of the risks handled by this agency, indicates “the possibility of a slight tsunami” in those areas.

The closest island to Tonga is Rapa Nui, better known as Easter Island, located 2,300 miles from the Chilean mainland. Meanwhile, the Juan Fernandez Archipelago and San Felix Island are much closer to South America, about 372 miles apart.

The warning comes hours after an underwater volcano erupted near Tonga in the South Pacific, causing tsunami waves to hit the coasts of this island nation and also triggered alarms in other countries in the region.

Small tsunami waves reach the Caribbean

The eruption of an underwater volcano in Tonga on Saturday triggered “small tsunamis that do not threaten the Caribbean basin,” the US Tsunami Warning Service said on its website.

These waves ranged from 0.1 feet recorded on Isla Mujeres and Puerto Morelos (Mexico) to 0.4 feet measured on Mona Island, in Puerto Rico (US), the service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

The foundation stressed there was “no need to take any action” because the size of the waves was not a cause for concern, and insisted there was no risk of a tsunami in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands or Britain.

What happened in Tonga?

There were no immediate reports of casualties or the extent of damage, as communications with the small country remained cut off for hours after the explosion.

In Tonga, a video posted on social media showed big waves crashing ashore in coastal areas, swirling around homes and buildings.

Satellite images showed a massive eruption, and a plume of ash, steam and gas billowed like mushrooms over the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Tonga meteorological services said a tsunami warning had been issued for the entire archipelago, and data from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center showed waves of 2.7 feet were detected.

Authorities in the two neighboring island nations of Fiji and Samoa also issued warnings, telling people to avoid the coast due to strong currents and dangerous waves. The Japan Meteorological Agency said there may be some slight swelling in the waters along the Japanese coast, but it is not expected to cause any damage.

The islands business news site reported that a convoy of police and military forces evacuated King Tubu VI of Tonga from his palace near the coast. He was among the many residents who made their way to higher regions.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano was the latest in a series of spectacular eruptions.

Earlier, Matangi Tonga news website reported that scientists noticed massive explosions, thunder and lightning near the volcano after its eruption began early Friday. Satellite imagery showed a 3-mile-wide plume rising into the air up to about 12 miles.

More than 1,400 miles away in New Zealand, authorities have warned of a storm surge from the volcano’s eruption.

The National Emergency Management Agency said parts of New Zealand could expect “extraordinarily strong currents and unexpected coastal surges following a major volcanic eruption”.

The volcano is located about 40 miles north of the capital, Nuku’alofa. In late 2014 and early 2015, a series of volcanic eruptions in the area created a new small island and disrupted international air travel to the Pacific archipelago for several days.

Tonga is home to about 105,000 people.