SKEENA REGION, B.C. – Coastal life in the Skeena region is returning to normal after a tense night under a Tsunami Advisory, which was officially lifted by Emergency Info BC at approximately 6:30 a.m. this morning.
The alert was triggered Tuesday afternoon by a massive and distant earthquake, now confirmed by the United States Geological Survey as magnitude 8.7. The quake struck at 4:25 p.m. Pacific Time in the Pacific Basin, about 129 kilometres southeast of Kamchatka, Russia. In the hours that followed, more than 40 significant aftershocks were recorded, shaking the region further.
The event unfolded methodically on Tuesday evening. Emergency Info BC first issued a “Tsunami Watch” around 5:30 p.m., which was upgraded to a more serious “Tsunami Advisory” about 20 minutes later as more data became available. A “watch” indicates a potential danger, while an “advisory” means strong, dangerous currents are likely and people must stay away from the shore.
The advisory covered the entire B.C. coast, including Zone A (North Coast and Haida Gwaii) and Zone B (Central Coast), placing communities from Prince Rupert to Kitimat on high alert.
In response, local authorities mobilized quickly. The District of Kitimat and the City of Prince Rupert issued local notices urging residents to stay clear of all shorelines, harbours, and marinas. Local First Nations with coastal communities and fishing sites also activated their emergency notification plans.
The first waves, predicted to be small, reached the northern tip of Haida Gwaii around 10:05 p.m. Tuesday night. As forecast, the impact was minimal, with tide gauges in the region recording only minor sea level fluctuations of about 20 centimetres and no damage was reported.
The event served as a critical real-world test of the province’s tsunami warning system and of community preparedness. While the danger has passed, officials remind all coastal residents that it is a valuable opportunity to review their own emergency plans and be familiar with their local tsunami evacuation routes.
