Hawaii Prepares for Dangerous Currents after Tsunami Advisory

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (Reuters) - Hawaii residents were urged on Wednesday to stay clear of beaches and avoid swimming in the ocean after a tsunami advisory was issued for the state following an 8.2 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile.

The advisory from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned that possible sea level changes and strong currents could pose a danger to swimmers and boaters, although experts said they did not expect evacuations to be ordered.

"We're sure the waves are not going to be large enough to cause any flooding," Gerard Fryer, senior geophysicist for the center, told reporters. "However, we're worried there may be dangerous currents so we want people off the beach and out of the water."

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

The advisory, issued late Tuesday after the quake struck off Chile's northern coast, is less significant than a tsunami warning, which would be prompted by expectations of widespread flooding.

The initial wave from the earthquake is expected to reach Hawaii at 3:24 a.m. local time (0924 EDT).

Fryer said the real concern was strong currents at beaches and marinas.

"Occasionally you get a larger wave so it sweeps up the beach or something," he said. "If you're not ready for it you can get into difficulty, and if you're in the water you can get banged about."

The advisory for Hawaii will last until around 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Fryer said.

In Chile, six people have died following the massive quake that struck the north of the Andean country, Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake generated a large tsunami with the biggest wave reported at more than 7 feet. The Chilean navy said the first big wave hit the country's coast within 45 minutes of the earthquake.

(Reporting by Karin Stanton in Kailua-Kona and Victoria Cavaliere in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American