Tsunami advisory issued for Hawaii, West Coast following volcano eruption

A tsunami advisory was issued for parts of the U.S. West Coast following an underwater volcanic eruption near the South Pacific nation of Tonga.

The United States’ Pacific Tsunami Warning Center tweeted on Saturday that Hawaii was issued a tsunami advisory. Other states such as Alaska, Oregon and Washington were also issued tsunami advisories, The Washington Post reported.

“PTWC has issued a Tsunami Advisory for Hawaii. A tsunami is currently being observed by all Islands’ Emergency Management. We are relieved that there is no reported damage and only minor flooding through-out the islands,” the center tweeted.

The center had previously issued a warning for American Samoa, but it was later canceled.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology reported that a 4-foot tsunami had resulted from the eruption of an underwater volcano that occurred 40 miles north of Tonga’s capital, according to Reuters. 

The tsunami, which flooded the capital of Tonga, required the evacuation of its king, Tupou VI, Radio New Zealand reported.

Several countries, including New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, also issued tsunami warnings or advisories in response. 

“We have issued a NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY following the Tongan eruption. We expect New Zealand coastal areas on the north and east coast of the North Island and the Chatham Islands to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore,” New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency tweeted.