LOC18:41
15:41 GMT
WASHINGTON, March 11 (KUNA) -- Tsunami waves spawned by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan struck the Hawaiian Islands on Friday, but early reports indicated no major damage.
California and other US West Coast states were awaiting the arrival of the waves later in the morning.
Two six-feet surges of rolled into Kahululi Harbor in Hawaii, while in Hilo, the wave reached three feet, officials reported. Residents of the islands were told to await further developments, because tsunami waves can last for hours.
Residents of low-lying areas along the West Coast of the continental United States were asked to evacuate, including those along the coast in Santa Barbara County, California; Grays Harbor County, Washington state; and Seaside, Oregon. Evacuations were also being considered for the San Francisco Bay Area.
Tsunami warnings covered the western coast of the United States and Canada from the Mexican border to Chignik Bay in Alaska. Small communities along the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska were placed on alert.
President Barack Obama issued a statement on Friday saying that he and his wife, First Lady Michelle, "send our deepest condolences to the people of Japan, particularly those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunamis." "The United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial," Obama said. "The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakable, and only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of Japan as they overcome this tragedy." US officials will continue to closely monitor tsunamis around Japan and the Pacific going forward, he said, "and we are asking all our citizens in the affected region to listen to their state and local officials as I have instructed FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) to be ready to assist Hawaii and the rest of the US states and territories that could be affected". (end) rm.hb KUNA 111841 Mar 11NNNN