Washington: Tsunami waves from Japan’s massive earthquake have damaged boats on the US West Coast and left one man missing after racing thousands of miles across the Pacific.
Cindy Henderson, an emergency services manager in Crescent City, said: “We have at least 35 boats that have been crushed. We have boats on top of other boats.”
The US Coast Guard said there has been damage to about six boats in the marina in Santa Cruz, after they collided due to the buffeting tsunami waves.
According to the News Straits Times, Santa Cruz Port director Lisa Ekers has estimated the damage to be worth more than 10 million dollars.
Tsunami waves have sparked mass evacuations on Hawaii and the US West Coast. Surges of 8 feet high crashed ashore on the coasts of California and Oregon, triggered tsunami alerts in dozens of countries across the Pacific.
Before reaching the US mainland the tidal waves hit Hawaii, which had been given only four hours to evacuate low-lying areas, sirens blared as locals and tourists scrambled to higher ground.
US President Barack Obama said he was monitoring the tsunami threat to his home state Hawaii and the US West Coast. He called Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to offer condolences and help.
He said: “My understanding is that the main assistance that we’re going to be able to provide them is lift capacity: the ability for us to help in the cleanup.”