A Tsunami Advisory Was Issued For BC After A Volcano Erupted In Tonga

"Do not go to the shore to observe the tsunami."

Western Canada Editor

A tsunami advisory is in effect for parts of B.C. after a volcano erupted near Tonga.

The underwater volcano in the Pacific Ocean erupted on Saturday, sending large waves crashing across the shores of the South Pacific islands and flooding Tonga's capital city Nuku'alofa.

Now, a tsunami advisory has been issued for the north coast and Haida Gwaii, the central coast and northeast Vancouver Island, the outer west coast of Vancouver Island, and the Juan de Fuca Strait coast.

"Wave activity" is expected in Langara at 8:30 a.m. PT and Tofino at 8:50 a.m. PT.

People in coastal areas that are at risk are advised to stay away from the shoreline.

EmergencyInfoBC

If you are in a tsunami advisory area, you should:

  • Get out of the water, off the beach, and stay away from harbours, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets.
  • Not return to the coast until local emergency officials say it is safe to do so.
People who own boats have been told to move their vessels out to sea to a depth of at least 180 feet.

According to CNN, the eruption has also prompted tsunami advisories for New Zealand's North Island and the west coast of the United States from California to Alaska.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

  • Western Canada Editor Daniel Milligan was the Western Canada Editor at Narcity Canada. He was responsible for developing trending news strategies and managing a team of writers and editors. Originally from the U.K., Daniel holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in journalism from Staffordshire University. Over the past decade, he has worked on major news stories including terror attacks in London, England, and Manchester, along with royal weddings, Brexit developments, the Canadian federal election and the Nova Scotia mass shooting. Daniel was a senior editor and newsroom leader at Trinity Mirror, one of the U.K.'s largest regional news websites. He would later move to Toronto and work at Yahoo Canada and CTV News/CTV National News.

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