Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's £11million Montecito mansion has been placed under a tsunami advisory following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to California in January 2020, live in the upscale coastal town of Montecito with their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
California's Santa Barbara County, where Montecito is located, was included in a tsunami advisory issued by the US National Tsunami Warning Center on Tuesday night.
Residents in the area were advised to avoid beaches and stay out of the water, with officials warning that the risk could persist for hours after the initial wave.
Tsunami threat issued for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Montecito community
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By Wednesday morning, the first waves generated by the earthquake had reached coastal areas of the United States, including California and Hawaii.
Communities along the Pacific coast were urged to seek higher ground as tsunami alerts were triggered across Hawaii, Alaska, and the US West Coast.
In Hawaii, evacuation orders were issued for low-lying areas. Sirens sounded across parts of Oahu, prompting residents to pack and flee inland.
Large traffic jams developed as many rushed to escape the danger. The scenes come just months after the Sussexes' home was similarly impacted during the California wildfires in January.
Tsunami waves flood an area after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula
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On January 14, Harry and Meghan's property came under a red flag warning as wildfires surged through the Los Angeles area.
Montecito Fire Department officials warned that strong Santa Ana winds, known as "Devil Winds," could drive dangerous fire growth, advising residents to be ready to evacuate.
Harry and Meghan purchased their Montecito estate for £11million in mid-2020, only months after relocating from the UK.
The current tsunami advisory prompted officials in Alaska to warn that waves could hit within hours.
Authorities warned residents in downtown Honolulu about the possibility of destructive tsunami waves
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Rescuers examine a damaged building following a powerful earthquake on the island of Sakhalin, Russia
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Coastal communities across California, Oregon, and Washington were told to avoid entering the water, as tsunami watches extended along thousands of miles of shoreline. Some locals began preparing for the worst, stocking up on essentials like food, fuel, and bottled water.
Others appeared more relaxed about the situation, with videos posted online showing people ignoring evacuation guidance.
In one TikTok video, user Shelbykblackburn captured her fear as sirens echoed in the background. "I'm shaking right now. A warning has officially gone off," she said.
"We just got a notification that there's a tsunami threat. The boats - looks like they're turning around and coming back in. There are a lot of people out on their background looking and running upstairs. This just got really scary."