HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has issued a tsunami watch for the Hawaiian Islands after an earthquake rattled the east coast of Russia.
According to the National Weather Service, the watch was issued just after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, following the 8.0 magnitude quake.
An investigation is being conducted to determine if the earthquake poses a hazard to Hawaii, said the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.
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They added that if a tsunami forms, the earliest it could reach Hawaii would be 7:17 p.m.
Officials urge Hawaii residents to prepare now and monitor local TV/radio for more information.
Tsunami Watch
The NWS says this alert is issued when there is a significant earthquake in distant waters, but a tsunami approach has not been confirmed.
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Sirens will not sound, but the public is advised to prepare for a possible upgrade to a tsunami warning.