Santa Monica beaches and the pier were closed because of Tsunami advisories. (Photo by Matt Schrader)
UPDATE 3:16 PM - A tsunami warning remains in effect for Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties coastal areas.
UPDATE 1:16 PM - Officials say Newport beaches are now open again.
UPDATE 12:15 PM - The coast guard is searching for a man swept out to sea in Northern California. The man was taking pictures of the tsunami.
UPDATE 11:27 AM - Tsunami waves have swamped Hawaii beaches, severely damaged harbors in California and sparked evacuations throughout the Pacific.
Water has rushed up onto roadways and into hotel lobbies on the Big Island and low-lying areas in Maui were flooded as 7-foot waves crashed ashore. Large waves have also hit the U.S. western coast, shaking loose boats and tearing apart wooden docks in at least two California harbors.
UPDATE 11:02 AM- Increased waves have already begun hitting the California coast, and more activity is expected over the next few hours, according to Seismologist Lucy Jones with the U.S. Geological Survey at Caltech.
Crowds of residents and tourists gather along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. (Matt Schrader)
UPDATE 10:46 AM - The tsunami created by the massive Japanese earthquake has caused severe damage to the harbor in Crescent City, near the Oregon border, officials said.
Most boats were pulled out of the harbor in preparation for Friday’s tsunami, but 35 vessels that remained are crashing into one another and sinking, Del Norte County sheriff’s spokesman Bill Stevens said. The wooden docks are breaking apart under the force of the waves.
Crescent City Councilwoman Kelly Schellong said the docks and harbor “are pretty much completely destroyed”, and wooden docks are breaking apart under the force of the waves.
The damage cost is estimated to be into the millions and surges are still expected through the afternoon.
However, the waves have not gone over the 20-foot break wall at the harbor, and no serious injuries or home damage have been reported.
Tsunami advisories were sent out along the Southern California Coast Friday morning because of the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that hit Japan.
The National Weather service said all surfers, swimmers, and boaters should stay out of the water. Lifeguards were positioned at strategic locations along Southern California beaches to make sure people stayed out of the water.
Dr. Ken Hudnut of the U.S. Geological Survey said the first waves to hit the coast may not be the biggest waves, which could hit up to three hours after the first waves.
The Santa Monica pier was closed, and some schools were not open on the coast of Orange County.
Newport Elementary School in Newport Beach was closed as a precaution, because it is very close to the beach, said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff’s department.
“The impact of this event has the potential of lasting 10-12 hours, beginning at 8 a.m.,” Los Angeles County fire Capt. Sam Padilla said.
