Tsunami warning for California

Lifeguards along the California coast have been issued a Tsunami advisory, after the tsunami that wreaked havoc in American Samoa was reported to be heading across the Pacific towards Californian shores.

The tsunami was expected to lose much of its strength after travelling thousands of miles over the Pacific oceans, but local authorities have nevertheless advised people to avoid low-lying areas.

Experts warned that larger-than-usual waves were to be expected around the Californian coastline at about 21:00 hours Pacific Time.

Officials in American Samoa are estimating that the death toll from the tsunami there may total to over a hundred. The tsunami is believed to have been triggered by a 7.9 magnitude earth quake in American Samoa.

Captain Terry Harvey of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard said that area lifeguards would be ready to move county vehicles away from the beach if required. He said the advisory essentially declared a “heightened state of alert”, and added that this may not be a good time to visit beaches or harbours. He advises people to wait until the tsunami advisory has been lifted, before heading out to the shores.

Authorities in Crescent City in Northern California said they would be staying particularly alert. The area was struck by a massive tsunami in 1964, which left 11 people dead and parts of the city destroyed.

Meanwhile, in America Samoa, phone lines were reportedly jammed as anxious relatives of the island’s denizens tried desperately to contact them.