Hawaii tsunami warning downgraded and no major damage after first waves hit islands
A major tsunami is not expected to strike Hawaii, a Pacific monitoring agency has said, after the first waves hit the islands after a powerful magnitude-8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia's eastern coast. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, operated by the US National Weather Service, said in an update that "based on all available data," a major tsunami was not expected, although it warned all coasts could remain "a hazard to swimmers and boaters," including people near the shore. Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency said evacuation orders had been lifted and there were no reports of major damage. The highest recorded waves in Hawaii were earlier reported as close to 1.8 meters (6ft). Tsunami warning sirens sounded in Honolulu on Wednesday as the emergency department called for the evacuation of some coastal areas in preparation. The coastguard had also issued an advisory for all boats, saying they should leave port before the tsunami hit...