Hawaii Tsunami Smaller than Feared; Ports Reopened

Byline: Associated Press/Oskar Garcia

HONOLULU (AP) — Officials in Hawaii reopened the state’s ports Oct. 28 and canceled a tsunami advisory as fears receded that there would be damaging waves from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Canada.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lifted its tsunami advisory just before 4 a.m. local time, three hours after downgrading from a warning and less than six hours after the waves first hit the islands.

The Coast Guard said Honolulu Harbor and all other Hawaii harbors were reopened and operating normally by the afternoon. Center officials said wave heights had diminished, though swimmers and boaters were asked to be careful of strong or unusual currents.

The biggest waves — about 5 feet high — appeared to hit Maui. There were no immediate reports of damage, though one person died in a fatal crash near a road that was closed because of the threat near Oahu’s north shore.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie said the state was lucky to avoid more severe surges.

The National Weather Service also canceled tsunami advisories for Canada, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.

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