Gambar Tsunami Melanda Jepun.

Hawaii remained in the crosshairs of a potentially destructive tsunami this morning after a massive 8.9-magnitude quake hit off Honshu, Japan.

While the first waves weren’t expected to hit the islands until 3:07 a.m., scientists warned that the series of waves could last for hours.

Civil Defense ordered the evacuation of coastal inundation zones and the state opened emergency “refuge” centers.

John Cummings, a spokesman for city Department of Emergency Management, said about 30,000 residents live in the coastal inundation zone, according to recent estimates.

Even before Civil Defense sirens began sounding just before 10 p.m., Honolulu motorists began lining up at gas stations to top off their tanks. Police dispatch reported arguments over gas in Ewa Beach and many stations had long lines.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, based in Ewa Beach, issued a tsunami watch at 7:56 p.m. after the quake struck 231 miles northeast of Tokyo. The watch was upgraded to a more serious warning about 9:30 p.m.

“A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii,” the warning center said in a statement. “Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property.”

The warning center said wave heights could not be predicted, but the first wave may not be the largest. The warning center said “all shores are at risk” in Hawaii no matter which direction they face.

Chip McCreary, director of the warning center, said the latest forecast models show “wave amplitudes of up to 2 meters (6 feet) beyond normal sea levels in Hawaii.

“What these waves look like is an elevation of sea level, where the sea level will rise above its normal level and stay high for 10 or 15 minutes before they recede,” McCreary said.

Because of the long length of tsunami waves, “they wrap around our islands very efficiently” so there is no point of impact that may see higher waves than other areas.

Because of the direction of the waves, the first major island hit would be Kauai, he said. It would only take 20 minutes for the first waves to move through the entire island chain, he said.

The city opened its Emergency Operations Center at the Frank F. Fasi building, where police, firefighters and Mayor Peter Carlisle assembled.

“We’re looking at a potentially very serious event here,” said Cummings.

Hawaiian Electric has opened its emergency command center and is implementing its tsunami plans, according to Peter Rosegg, HECO spokesman.

The striking IBEW union workers are still out, Rosegg said, adding that the electric company has an agreement with the union that workers will return to work in case of a “major emergency.”

Crews of Pearl Harbor ships were summoned, but the vessels will remain in the harbor, the Navy said.

Tsunami swirls near a port in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

Tsunami swirls near a port in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

Waves of tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday.

A tsunami tidal wave washes away houses in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Friday, March 11, 2011 after strong earthquakes hit the area.

Earthquake-triggered tsumanis sweep shores along Iwanuma in northern Japan on Friday March 11, 2022. The magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s eastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

A tsumani triggered by a powerful earthquake makes its way to sweep part of Sendai airport in northern Japan on Friday March 11, 2022. The magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s eastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

In this video image taken from Japan’s NHK TV, a wave from the tsunami heads to the coast in Miyagi Prefecture on the north east coast of Japan Friday March 11, 2011 following a massive earth quake. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.

In this video image taken from Japan’s NHK TV, a tsunami surge sweeps boats, cars and other debris over a highway in the Sendai City area, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan Friday March 11, 2011 following a massive earth quake. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.

People watch the aftermath of tsunami tidal waves covering a port at Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday, March 11, 2011

Tarmac, parking lot and surrounding area are covered with mud and debris carried by tsunami at Sendai Airport in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

In this video image taken from Japan’s NHK TV, houses, cars and debris half submerged is swept towards a highway by a tsunami in the Sendai city area, Miyagi Prefecture (state) after Japan Friday March 11, 2011 following a massive earth quake. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.

In this video image taken from Japan’s NHK TV, water surrounds the airport building at Sendai Airport, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan Friday March 11, 2011 following a massive earth quake. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.

Cars and other Debris swept away by tsunami tidal waves are seen in Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday, March 11, 2011.

Light planes and vehicles sit among the debris after they were swept by a tsumani that struck Sendai airport in northern Japan on Friday March 11, 2022. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s eastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

Houses, cars and other debris are washed away by tsunami tidal waves in Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday, March 11, 2011.

Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed wall at a carpark in Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011 after a massive earthquake rocked Japan. massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on March 11, unleashing a monster 10-metre high tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns.

Houses are in flame while the Natori river is flooded over the surrounding area by tsunami tidal waves in Natori city, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, March 11, 2011, after strong earthquakes hit the area.

Fire smokes billow from residences as a coastal area is flooded by waters after a tsunami in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control.

In this video image taken from Japan’s NHK TV, a wave from the tsunami sweeps boats inland in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan Friday March 11, 2011 following a massive earth quake. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan’s northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.

Tarmac, parking lot and surrounding area are covered with mud and debris carried by tsunami at Sendai Airport in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

Flames rise from houses and debris half submerged in tsunami in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

RETRANSMISSION WITH REDUCED RESTRICTION AS AP GOT PERMISSION FOR USE ONLINE FROM THE SOURCE – In this image made off Japan’s NHK TV video footage, houses are washed away by tsunami in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state) eastern Japan, after Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

Residents walk through the rubles of residents collapsed by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday.

A truck remains stranded on a road damaged by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday.