Panama City: A powerful earthquake struck Panama on Friday, October 9, prompting tsunami warnings for coastal areas of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Alerts were also issued for El Salvador and Easter Island, Chile.
As the quake made headlines, a viral video of large waves crashing onto the shore at Huntington Beach in Southern California sparked false claims that a tsunami had struck the area following the Panama earthquake. The footage does not show a tsunami: no tsunami warning was issued for California or other US states after the earthquake.
Tropical Storm Rachel behind the big waves
The large waves in the viral footage were linked to high tides and ocean swells associated with Tropical Storm Rachel, which was approaching Southern California. As of the morning of October 9, the storm was located hundreds of miles southwest of San Diego and moving northeast. Forecasters indicated it could weaken into a post-tropical system or remnant low as it neared the California coast over the weekend — but warned that coastal communities could still face flooding, erosion and dangerous surf.
Newport Beach and Long Beach have already experienced coastal flooding as strong ocean swells combined with high tides. In Long Beach, waves battered the Peninsula, damaging a roughly 30-foot section of the protective seawall and boardwalk. Seawater spilled onto nearby streets and reached residential areas, with flooding in some locations ankle deep.
Vehicle access was restricted in affected areas, including 62nd Place, and city inspectors declared two buildings containing three residential units unsafe to enter. Emergency crews deployed sandbags and reinforced protective barriers to limit further damage. In Newport Beach, videos reportedly showed flooding near 15th Street and West Balboa Boulevard, with waves forecast to reach 3 to 5 feet and some sets potentially rising to 6 or 7 feet.
Officials urge caution
Officials have warned of beach erosion and dangerous rip currents, and residents have been advised to follow local weather alerts, avoid flooded roads and stay away from hazardous shoreline areas. The viral Huntington Beach video, in short, shows storm-driven ocean conditions — not evidence of a tsunami triggered by the Panama earthquake.
Sources:
- Times Now: Fact Check — Did a tsunami hit Huntington Beach after the Panama earthquake?
As the quake made headlines, a viral video of large waves crashing onto the shore at Huntington Beach in Southern California sparked false claims that a tsunami had struck the area following the Panama earthquake. The footage does not show a tsunami: no tsunami warning was issued for California or other US states after the earthquake.
Tropical Storm Rachel behind the big waves
The large waves in the viral footage were linked to high tides and ocean swells associated with Tropical Storm Rachel, which was approaching Southern California. As of the morning of October 9, the storm was located hundreds of miles southwest of San Diego and moving northeast. Forecasters indicated it could weaken into a post-tropical system or remnant low as it neared the California coast over the weekend — but warned that coastal communities could still face flooding, erosion and dangerous surf.
Newport Beach and Long Beach have already experienced coastal flooding as strong ocean swells combined with high tides. In Long Beach, waves battered the Peninsula, damaging a roughly 30-foot section of the protective seawall and boardwalk. Seawater spilled onto nearby streets and reached residential areas, with flooding in some locations ankle deep.
Vehicle access was restricted in affected areas, including 62nd Place, and city inspectors declared two buildings containing three residential units unsafe to enter. Emergency crews deployed sandbags and reinforced protective barriers to limit further damage. In Newport Beach, videos reportedly showed flooding near 15th Street and West Balboa Boulevard, with waves forecast to reach 3 to 5 feet and some sets potentially rising to 6 or 7 feet.
Officials urge caution
Officials have warned of beach erosion and dangerous rip currents, and residents have been advised to follow local weather alerts, avoid flooded roads and stay away from hazardous shoreline areas. The viral Huntington Beach video, in short, shows storm-driven ocean conditions — not evidence of a tsunami triggered by the Panama earthquake.
Sources:
- Times Now: Fact Check — Did a tsunami hit Huntington Beach after the Panama earthquake?
