SAN FRANCISCO—UPDATE: Crescent City harbor “destroyed.”
Crescent City Councilman Rich Enea told the Times-Standard, “The harbor has been destroyed,” in a 9:45am phone interview, also describing what had happened as “major damage.” Phone calls to Crescent City public offices went unanswered early Friday afternoon.
The quiet Pacific Coast town Crescent City located in Northern California is seeing signs of bigger waves hitting its shore due to the tsunami caused by the giant earthquake off the East Coast of Japan.
The 8.9-magnitude earthquake rocked Japan on Friday at 2:46 p.m. local time, triggering tsunami warning for the West Coast from California to Alaska.
Hawaii was preparing itself for a possible tsunami, with roads closed and evacuation centers prepared.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, waves began increasing in size in and around Crescent City around 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. Experts are predicting waves to reach 7 feet, which could cause some trouble for boaters and tourists.
The waves may attract some surfers who thrive on waves caused by natural disasters. Sirens have been set off to warn people of the approaching tsunami in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties. Some roads and schools have been closed in preparation for the approaching wave.
The Silicon Valley’s Mercury News has reported that there is a chance that the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) may close near Oakland later in the day if waves become too large. As of Friday morning, the BART has been running smoothly with no cancellations. Service will be canceled if waves start to reach 10 to 12 feet.
Experts have said the tsunami could hit shore at Crescent City located at the far north end of California, about 20 miles south of the Oregon border. The city is the home of multiple national parks that may face closings due to flooding.
