A tsunami triggered by the Chilean earthquake hit the shores of Hawaii, which was earlier placed under tsunami alert, after the devastating 8.8-magnitude quake.
The Pacific island was, however, spared of any major disaster as the waves were not as deadly as scientists had predicted.
Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, was quoted as saying: “We dodged a bullet.” The centre, later, cancelled the tsunami alert.
Governments and local emergency officials had warned people of the tsunami. Sirens blared in Hawaii and beaches were hastily evacuated.
Waves triggered by the yesterday’s quake also hit the coast in California.
“I urge citizens to listen closely to the instructions of local officials, who will have the full support of the federal government as they prepare for a potential tsunami, and recover from any damage that may be caused,” US President Barack Obama said.
“I also urge our citizens along the West Coast to be prepared as well, as there may be dangerous waves and currents throughout the day,” he added.
In French Polynesia, tsunami waves damaged parts of the coast but there were no reports of major destruction or victims. Meanwhile, Japan has issued a warning of a “major” tsunami of upto three metres along its northern coasts.
