LOS ANGELES, The U.S. state of California has been put on high alert for possible tsunami, authorities said on Wednesday.
A tsunami advisory has been issued for the Southern California coast because of a magnitude-8.0 earthquake in the South Pacific near American Samoa.
An inundation of 1 foot to 1.5 feet was expected to hit Los Angeles County and could last at least two hours, according to Curt Kaplan of the National Weather Service.
The U.S. Coast Guard warned the public to move out of the water, off the beach and out of harbors and marinas. Mandatory evacuations have not been ordered.
Tsunamis are potentially dangerous for several hours after initial arrival.
Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the arrival of the initial wave, according to Lt. j.g. Tyler A. Stutin of the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The Coast Guard strongly encourages waterfront users to take extra precautions in preparation for the possibility of a surge, to include securing vessel mooring arrangements and possible sources of pollution,” according to a statement from the agency.
Los Angeles Port Police informed terminal operators about the advisory, but operators were not being told to shut down operations.
A tsunami advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or dangerous waves, said Phillip Sanfield of the Port of Los Angeles.
The magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck on Tuesday in the Pacific Ocean and triggered a tsunami that leveled at least one Samoan village.
The National Weather Service issued a tsunami advisory for the California coast, stretching from the Mexican border to the Oregon/Washington border.
“A minor tsunami may be recorded in some areas of the coast which could produce dangerous currents and surges in harbors and bays,” according to the National Weather Service.
“Coastal residents are advised to stay out of the waters, off the beach and away from harbors and marinas. Wave height and currents are amplified by irregular shoreline and are difficult to predict,” said the Service.
Some agencies said they would close beaches and evacuate marinas, while lifeguards at beaches kept a watchful eye.
