Japan earthquake and tsunami: Hawaii struck as giant waves sweep across Pacific Ocean

Japan earthquake and tsunami: Hawaii struck as giant waves sweep across Pacific Ocean

 

• Evacuated residents in Hawaii allowed to return to their homes
  
• Waves begin to hit Oregon and California but little damage reported
  
• U.S. government is still taking the situation 'very seriously'
  

Hawaii and the U.S. west coast escaped serious damage today as the giant waves predicted to inundate beaches after the Japanese earthquake failed to materialise.

Waves up to eight-feet high caused some damage in Hawaii, but the surge was much lower than expected. At 8.30am local time the tsunami warning was downgraded to advisory and evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes, but advised to stay off the beach.

Warnings were in place along much of America's west coast, where the first waves struck near Port Orford, Oregon, and Crescent City, California shortly before 8.45am PST.

Although the U.S. mainland is so far mostly unscathed, in a news conference President Obama said authorities are still taking the potential danger seriously and urged citizens to do the same.

Unperturbed: Surfer Mark Fontes, watches the waves at Newport Beach, California. Some surfers have defied warnings and taken to the waves

He said: 'There hasn't been any major damage so far, but we are taking the situation very seriously. We are telling people if you are told to evacuate, do as you are told.'

Waves also hit Santa Cruz in California, where the surge tore boats from their moorings and swept them towards the sea. No significant damage was reported.