Scientists at the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center have cancelled a tsunami advisory early Wednesday although most beaches remained closed until about noon. The advisory was posted in Hawaii for nearly 14 hours.
According to the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, a tsunami wave of 1.8 feet occurred at Hilo, Hawaii on Wednesday morning. Kahului, Maui reported a wave of 0.9 feet, but no major damage was reported or expected. According to Reuters, Surf measurements of 1.7 feet were recorded at Kahului on the island of Maui and of 1.9 feet at Hilo on the Big Island, but those "aren't really impressive in terms of wave height," said Shelly Kunishige, a spokeswoman with Hawaii State Civil Defense.
Kunishige also said no inland flooding was expected, no evacuations were ordered, and officials had received no reports of tidal damage, according to Reuters.
The tsunami wave was caused when an 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern Chile near the port of Iquique on Tuesday evening, killing six and triggering a tsunami that pounded the shore with 2-meter (7-foot) waves.
Thousands of miles away in Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned residents late Tuesday that possible sea level changes and strong currents could pose a danger to swimmers and boaters.
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