All tsunami advisories have been cancelled by Emergency Management B.C. more than eight hours after they were first announced.
Coastal B.C. was under the advisory since the early hours of Saturday morning following a volcanic eruption on Friday near the Tonga Islands.
Mike Farnworth, B.C. minister of public safety and solicitor general, said Saturday morning it was expected that the advisories would remain in place for several hours.
“To be clear, this is an advisory only, and not a tsunami warning. The risk is limited to increased tidal currents. Until the advisory is lifted, stay away from beaches, shorelines and marinas, and follow the directions of local governments,” said Farnworth in a statement.
Although it was not a more serious tsunami warning, the event demonstrated that coast warning systems do work, Farnworth added.
As of 10 a.m., Langford Fire Rescue and the District of Sooke reported on social media no effects had been noted, but the advisory remains in place and residents should continue to avoid marinas and the shoreline until it is lifted.
The province first issued the alert around 5 a.m. Jan. 15, for the coast and all of Vancouver Island.
No significant inundation was expected, but low-lying coastal areas and beaches were at risk, according to EMBC, in an alert issued by Environment Canada.
Meanwhile, nations across the pacific remain on alert.
Tonga, Fiji and Samoa have all issued tsunami alerts with waves of up to 80 cm detected.
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