Donald Trump Issues Chilling Tsunami Warning: Are These Cities Next on the Brink of Disaster?

So, imagine this: the Earth decides to throw one heck of a tantrum right off Russia’s Pacific coast with an 8.8 magnitude earthquake that basically sent a giant watery “heads up” to pretty much every Pacific-facing country out there. Waves towering up to 13 feet crashed near the epicenter in Kamchatka, prompting a mad dash to higher ground from Russia to Hawaii, Japan, and beyond. It’s like the planet hit the “big shake” button, and now a tsunami threat is rippling across the ocean—reminding us all that Mother Nature’s got serious moves, sometimes stronger than anything we’ve seen in decades. So, the real question is: are we keeping an eye on those tsunami alerts or just hoping the ocean misses its dramatic encore? Dive deeper into what’s unfolding here. LEARN MORE

Countries situated along the Pacific coast are bracing for catastrophe after one of the world’s most powerful earthquakes triggered a tsunami.

The knock-on effect of the 8.8 magnitude tremor, which struck Russia‘s Far East at 11:25 local time on Wednesday (30 July), has spread far and wide across the region.

Close to the epicentre, it caused damage to numerous building and sparked widespread flooding, while waves of up to 13ft (4 metres) were recorded in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Governor Vladimir Solodov said.

“Today’s earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors,” he said.

The tremor prompted nearby countries, also situated on the Pacific coastline, to issue urgent evacuation orders to their residents.

People have been told to head to higher ground while getting as inland as possible, in case towering waves do approach the shoreline – as they already have in a number of places.

Experts believe the earthquake in Russia could be one of the strongest the world has ever seen, as it has power reminiscent of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake off north-eastern Japan in March 2011 which led to a massive tsunami.

People have been urged to seek safety amid the tsunami threat (David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Where is the tsunami expected to hit?

Tsunami alerts are in place for a myriad of countries in wake of the earthquake wreaking havoc across Russia.

The US Tsunami Warning System told people that ‘hazardous tsunami waves’ were expected to hit spots along the Pacific coast within the next few hours.

Nations which have been urged to prepare for the worst case scenario include Japan, China, the Philippines, Chile, Indonesia, New Zealand, Peru and Mexico.

Part of the US – such as Hawaii, California and Alaska – are also under threat, which prompted President Donald Trump to share his own warning message with Americans on social media.

The commander-in-chief, 79, said: “Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii.

“A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit tsunami.gov for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!”

Donald Trump has issued a tsunami warning to parts of the United States (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

In each of these countries, mass evacuations are currently taking place.

Sources such as the US’ Tsunami Warning System provide live updates explaining which areas are under warnings, watch or at threat.

What should people brace for?

The height and power of the waves which could hit each area varies, however, experts have warned they will likely have the gumption to unleash devastation.

The tallest wave measured so far was over 5ft (1.52 metres) in height and was recorded in Kahulu, Hawaii, which is situated on the north-central shore of Maui island.

In comparison, the northern coast of Japan has so far seen 40cm waves, while waves under 30 centimetres above tide levels were observed in the Alaskan communities of Amchitka and Adak.

A tsunami of 60cm was also recorded at Hamanaka on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and the Kuji port in Iwate on the main island.

Officials have warned that the impact of the earthquake-triggered tsunami could continue to unfold over the coming days.

The powerful earthquake triggered huge floods near the epicentre in Russia (Kamchatka of Geophysical Survey/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Centre in Alaska, explained: “A tsunami is not just one wave. It’s a series of powerful waves over a long period of time. Tsunamis cross the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour – as fast as a jet aeroplane – in deep water.

“But when they get close to the shore, they slow down and start to pile up. And that’s where that inundation problem becomes a little bit more possible there.”

“In this case, because of the Earth basically sending out these huge ripples of water across the ocean, they’re going to be moving back and forth for quite a while.”

What is a tsunami?

The majority of people are well aware of what a tsunami is, but how much do you know about the science behind them?

These kinds of waves are one of the most dangerous things to end up caught in, as a lot us saw for ourselves while watching the 2012 film The Impossible, which was based on the events of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

A tsunami is a series of waves which are ‘generated by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean’, according to the US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Shocking images captured the chaos which erupted in the water following the 2011 earthquake which triggered a tsunami in Japan (JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)

It explains that they are often triggered as a result of strong earthquakes, as 80% of tsunamis are a result of powerful tremors. However, landslides, volcanic activity and volatile weather conditions can also cause them.

NOAA states: “Tsunamis radiate outward in all directions from their source and can move across entire ocean basins, around islands and into bays, sounds and up rivers.

“When they reach the coast, they can cause dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents that impact marine operation and navigation, and can last for several hours or days.”

It goes on to explain that the potentially deadly waves can ‘go unnoticed’ in deep water, before they gain height as they travel through shallower water while approaching the shore.

“The speed of tsunami waves depends on ocean depth: the deeper the water, the faster the wave travels,” NOAA explains. “Tsunami waves may travel as fast as jet planes through deep waters, only slowing down when reaching shallow waters.”

Tsunamis pose a serious threat to life and can wreak havoc on the infrastructure of coastal countries.