A huge 8.8-magnitude earthquake has sent tsunami waves across the world, including Japan and Russia.
Waves are also expected to strike the United States, and the US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has reported waves of nearly six feet hitting Maui, Hawaii.
As people brace themselves for possible disaster, some holidaymakers have reported cruise ships are leaving without passengers.
One TikTok user, @demifreeman, posted a video of people frantically running down a port towards their ship on the social media site.
The clip said: ‘POV: tsunami in Hawaii and your cruise is leaving without people.’
‘Actually insane,’ the passenger said in the caption.
She added: ‘We are going to be in the middle of the tsunami in the ocean.’
While in another video, posted by @mandythecruiseplanner, appeared to show a bus load of people who had missed a cruise in Hawaii.
As people brace themselves for possible disaster, some holidaymakers have reported cruise ships are leaving without passengers
A tsunami watch has been extended to cover the entire West Coast of the United States
While in another video, posted by @mandythecruiseplanner , appeared to show a bus load of people who had missed a cruise in Hawaii
‘So we made it to the port, but the ship is leaving,’ Mandy explained.
She added: ‘The ship is leaving and now we’re going to higher ground and people are upset, and this is not me making light of the situation, this is me just saying it’s crazy, it’s chaos, nobody knows what’s going on, our bus driver had no idea what’s happening.
‘People on the ship, we have family on the ship, they’re terrified for us. We’re terrified for us.’
The holidaymaker shared how other passengers were coping, describing how some were even ‘crying’.
She said: ‘We’re going to be going to higher ground now, I’ll keep you posted about what’s happening, I did not expect this.
‘People are crying, we’re going to higher ground, an employer is yelling at people, people are yelling at the employee, this is crazy.’
She finished with: ‘I love you guys, I’ll keep you posted, keep the faith.
‘This is the first time I’ve ever not made it to the ship and I’m worried for all the kids, the kids are just terrified on the ship and communication is not great.’
It comes as Hawaii residents were urged to evacuate under threat of a devastating tsunami and officials issued statements about how to prepare for the possibility of natural disaster.
‘Head to higher ground or as far inland as possible,’ Drew Davis for Hawaii News Now said.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency advised residents to remain at least 100 feet away from inland waterways or marinas connected to the ocean due to wave surges and possible flooding.
‘If possible, remove or deploy vessels to deep water,’ the agency said.
It further advised anyone to locate evacuation zones or find higher ground, above the fourth floor, of structural steel or reinforced concrete buildings of ten or more stories for increased protection.
