Hawaii ordered evacuations of coastal areas due to the threat of a tidal wave set off by Friday's earthquake in Japan as a tsunami warning was extended to the entire Pacific basin, except for the U.S. mainland and Canada.
Countries covered by the tsunami warnings include Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. No word of any damage in those countries.
Nuclear plants near Japan quake safely shut--IAEA
The four Japanese nuclear power plants closest to Friday's major earthquake in Japan have been safely shut down, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
Nothing in Singapore, which escaped the Asian tsunami despite its proximity
People in Hawaii seem to be using the hashtag #hitsunami to keep up to date with the latest developments. @GenePark tweets: "Latest estimates from PTWC: Honolulu Harbor expecting a 3-foot wave; Haleiwa 6.6 feet; Hilo 6.2 feet"
Residents near Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have been told to evacuate, according to Jiji press.
From our latest Hawaii story: "The island of Kauai was expected to be the first hit in Hawaii because the tsunami was advancing from the west and would likely take 20 to 30 minutes to cross the entire state"
Kerianne, that appears to be the case as far as we know
Guam initially appeared to have emerged unscathed.
"So far no waves," Lorilee Crisostomo told Reuters by telephone from Guam, roughly an hour after the tsunami was first due, though forecasters set a four-hour window in which a wave could hit the island.
Japanese news outlet Kyodo reports: "BREAKING NEWS: Death toll from Japan quake rises to over 50".
None of those places are on tsunami alert
Our reporters in Japan are not noting any concerns about nuclear plants. From our latest economy update:
"Hokuriku Electric Co said all of three reactors at its Onagawa nuclear plant Japan shut down automatically after the quake, but no radioactive leaks were reported.
Electric Power Development (J-Power) also halted operations of its Isogo thermal power plant in Yokohama, Jiji reported"
Here's our latest report from Hawaii, updated as of 6.15 ET: www.reuters.com
