British Columbia remains under a tsunami advisory following one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in recent history — a powerful 8.7 to 8.8 magnitude quake that struck off the southeastern coast of Russia on Tuesday. The advisory, issued by Emergency Info BC and supported by updates from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), urges residents and visitors to avoid all coastal shorelines and beach areas due to the risk of strong waves and unpredictable currents.
The advisory covers large portions of the province’s coastal regions, including the North Coast, Haida Gwaii, the Central Coast, northeastern Vancouver Island, the west coast of Vancouver Island, and the Juan de Fuca Strait extending from the Jordan River area to Greater Victoria, including the Saanich Peninsula. Communities such as Tofino have closed their beaches, and alerts have been posted in areas such as Wickaninish Beach in Pacific Rim National Park. Although some people stayed behind to witness the sunset, local parking lots were reportedly near-empty as residents took heed of the warning.
NOAA reported observed tsunami waves along British Columbia’s coast ranging from six centimetres at Langara Island to 27 centimetres at Winter Harbour, 21 centimetres in Tofino, and nine centimetres in Bamfield. These relatively small surges coincided with a low tide late Tuesday evening, and no major damage was immediately reported. Despite the moderate readings, officials continue to caution the public about the potential for further wave activity and emphasize the importance of remaining away from beaches, marinas, and inlets until the advisory is lifted.
The earthquake, believed to be the most powerful globally since Japan’s 9.0 magnitude quake in 2011, has triggered alerts and evacuation efforts across the Pacific region. Tsunami waves up to 40 centimetres were detected in 16 coastal locations along Japan’s Pacific edge. Authorities in Hawaii, Ecuador, and Russia have also reported the possibility of waves exceeding three metres and have undertaken precautionary measures.
In British Columbia, residents near the coast spent the night closely monitoring updates on their phones, particularly in popular tourist areas such as campgrounds between Tofino and Ucluelet. While the region has so far avoided significant impact, emergency officials are reminding the public that tsunamis are not limited to a single wave and can present dangers for many hours following the initial quake.
The provincial government continues to monitor the situation and urges all individuals in affected areas to follow emergency guidelines and remain in safe locations until the advisory is formally lifted.