Thousands flee coast in California ahead of tsunami

THOUSANDS of people fled their homes along the California coast yesterday as a tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake in Japan began hitting the US West Coast after rolling through Hawaii.

However, the giant wall of water appeared to have lost much of its energy as it roared thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean towards North America, according to initial reports from officials in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The tsunami was expected to reach South America’s coastline early this morning, with many of the Latin American nations advising its citizens to take precautions.