Payam Javan: Hawaii has significantly downgraded its tsunami warnings, lifting all evacuation orders across the state, though a tsunami advisory remains in effect due to the potential for strong currents and dangerous waves. This allows residents who had evacuated to safely return home. Similarly, Japan’s Meteorological Agency has downgraded its tsunami alert to an advisory for the Pacific coast south of Fukushima, while a higher alert persists further north. These changes come after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia earlier today, generating tsunami waves that impacted various Pacific coastal areas.

While the immediate threat has lessened for Hawaii and parts of Japan, officials in both regions continue to urge caution, reminding the public of the ongoing potential for hazardous conditions. Tsunami warnings remain in place for Alaska and other southern Pacific coasts towards New Zealand. Reports indicate that waves as high as two feet were detected along Japan’s Pacific coast, and significant damage and evacuations were reported in Russian regions nearest the earthquake’s epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula, where a state of emergency has been declared in several areas.