Peru shutters half its ports as it gears for tsunami
Peru on Wednesday closed 65 of its 121 Pacific ports as a tsunami alert was issued following a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Russia.
The Navy recommended suspending port and fishing activities and urged people to stay away from the ocean.
The South American country’s COEN national emergency center said the first waves should arrive at its northern La Cruz port near the border with Ecuador around 10:10 am (1510 GMT.)
“It is expected that the height of the waves on the Peruvian coast will be between one and to 2.31 meters (3.2 to 7.5 feet), following the tsunami alert,” it stated.
Hernando Tavera, president of Peru’s IGP Geophysical Institute said the waves along the coast should not exceed three meters in height.
A powerful quake struck off the Russian coast near the Kamchatka peninsula, injuring several people and prompting tsunami warnings in almost all countries with Pacific coasts.
