Surges of 8 feet (2.4 meters) high crashed ashore on the coasts of California and Oregon, up to 12 hours after the 8.9-magnitude quake triggered tsunami alerts in dozens of countries across the Pacific The tsunami warning came after an 8.9-magnitude quake hit Japan, the largest ever recorded in the Asian nation's history, triggering walls of water which swamped the Japanese coastline and left hundreds of people dead.
The largest wave to crash ashore in Hawaii -- some 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) from the epicenter of the quake -- was measured as a 6-foot (1.8-meter) surge that hit Kahului on the island of Maui, officials said.
Geophysicist Gerard Fryer with the Pacific center said it was a "significant tsunami." While no major damage was reported, waves had apparently been washing up about 100 feet (30 meters) inland on the Big Island.
US President Barack Obama said he was monitoring the tsunami threat to his home state of Hawaii and the US West Coast, and he phoned Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to offer condolences and US help.
"My understanding is that the main assistance that we're going to be able to provide them is lift capacity: the ability for us to help in the cleanup," Obama said.
The Pentagon said the US military was ready to provide emergency assistance to the victims in Japan, and especially to send ships with humanitarian aid to help.
( takziah buat JAPAN ) =(
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