LOS ANGELES - Small surges of ocean water hit the Southern California coast today following the magnitude-8.9 earthquake that struck Japan, but while there were no reports of damage, geologists warned that heightened waves were expected into the afternoon as high tide approaches.
The earthquake, which caused a 30-foot tsunami to hit Japan, has killed more than 300 people there. It is believed to be the strongest earthquake ever to strike near Japan, and the fifth largest in history.
The first waves generated by the tsunami reached Southland beaches around 8:30 a.m., and while they generated some rough currents, the waves were not unusually large.
According to a local tsunami advisory, "strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected," with a 1- to 3- foot surge probable.
The first waves from the tsunami began hitting San Pedro, Santa Monica and Newport Beach starting at 8:30 a.m., but beachgoers at Marina del Rey and other locations about a half-hour later reported fairly normal wave conditions.
Dr. Ken Hudnut of the U.S. Geological Survey cautioned that the first waves may not be the biggest ones, with larger surges possible during high tides around noon.
Los Angeles County fire Capt. Sam Padilla said reports from Hawaii indicated that no problems had developed there from the tsunami.
A county Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team was mobilizing today at its Pacoima facility for deployment to Japan to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. The team will fly out of Los Angeles International Airport as soon as arrangements are finalized, county fire Inspector Matt Levesque said late this morning.
At a 10 a.m. briefing at Caltech, Hudnut said the earthquake was thought to be "probably the fifth-largest in recorded history."
Hudnut said the tsunami has passed Hawaii, and was heading toward the North American coast.
"Observations are that the waves have been smaller than initially predicted," Hudnut said. "But not much smaller."
According to the National Weather Service, at 9:22 a.m., wave height amplitudes were 2.9 feet in Malibu, 1.2 feet in Santa Monica, 2.8 feet in Redondo Beach, 2.1 feet in San Pedro Harbor, 2.3 feet in Laguna Beach and 1.3 feet in Huntington Beach.
Although the waves appeared benign, officials advised people to stay away from beaches around the Southland. And at harbors and marinas, people were reminded to follow Coast Guard and harbor master recommendations. No evacuations were ordered.
Some coastal flooding was possible, the NWS warned.
Newport Elementary School in Newport Beach was evacuated as a precaution, because it is very close to the beach, Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.
Gil Alexander of Southern California Edison said there was "no danger" to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which has a 30-foot wall designed to protect against tsunamis.