The US and Japan advised people on their Pacific coastlines Saturday to evacuate from the shore as a precaution against tsunami waves caused by a volcano eruption in the South Pacific.

Japan warned of waves as high as three metres, and waves of 1.2 metres hit the south of the country.

The US warned of strong currents and waves, and coastal flooding.

The huge underwater volcanic eruption caused waves of more than 4-feet to crash into Tonga.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano was heard across the South Pacific, and eventually as far away as the US.

Many parts of Tonga, whose capital is just 40 miles south of the eruption, are covered in ash and are experiencing a near-total blackout of power, phone lines and internet services. The extent of any injuries or damage was not immediately known.

Social media footage showed water washing through a church and several homes, and witnesses said ash was falling over the capital, Nuku'alofa.

Videos on social media showed traffic jams as people tried to flee low-lying areas by car.

A tsunami advisory was issued for parts of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancelled the advisory nearly 8-hours later.
No major tsunami was expected to strike Hawaii or the US mainland, KHON TV reported.

Ocean water displaced by the volcanic activity caused unusual sea level changes and alterations to typical sea currents.

In California, several beaches and marinas from Orange County to the Bay Area were temporarily closed as a precaution because of higher than normal waves, officials said. Port San Luis Harbor in San Luis Obispo County was registering a surge of more than 1 foot, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Story Date: January 16, 2022