US cancels tsunami warnings
WASHINGTON - The United States canceled early Saturday its tsunami warnings for all areas of the Pacific Ocean that could have been affected by a tidal wave generated by a major earthquake east of the Kuril Islands.
"For all areas the tsunami warning and tsunami watch are cancelled," The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement. Besides Russia and Japan, the warning had extended to Taiwan, Guam, Yap, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Wake, Marcus and Midway Islands as well as to Northern Marianas and Marshall Islands. A tsunami watch had been issued for a vast part of the Pacific basin including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua-New Guinea and the US state of Hawaii. The alerts came after an 8.2 magnitude earthquake had been detected in the ocean off the Russian-controlled Kuril Islands. The center said in a statement that sea level readings indicates that "a tsunami was generated" and "may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre." But it indicated the threat was receding with the passage of time. "For those areas -- when no major waves are observed for two hours after the estimated time of arrival or damaging waves have not occurred for at least two hours, then local authorities can assume the threat is passed," the statement said. It warned, however, that dangerous conditions to boats and coastal structures could continue for several hours due to rapid currents. Agence France-Presse
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