Guests recount moments of panic on superyacht during tsunami

Erin Dietrich, her husband and four children were cruising on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas when news broke of a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Russia.

"Everyone at home was texting tsunami warnings, so I was really scared but still tried to stay calm with the kids," Erin Dietrich shared with People while on the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship carrying nearly 5,000 people drifting near the coast of Alaska.

The Dietrichs and their four children were preparing dinner on the evening of July 29 when news of a tsunami warning spread across much of the West Coast of the United States, Japan, Hawaii and parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The warning was triggered by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Russia, at the time one of the six most powerful earthquakes ever recorded.

Tsunami warning for Alaska and US West Coast after earthquake off Russia and images of Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas cruise ship

PHOTO: AFP - GETTY

Dietrich and her family are no strangers to natural disasters. As residents of Myrtle Beach, the US, they are used to storms and similar weather. But going on a cruise for the first time in 18 years during a tsunami warning was “a completely different experience,” especially when the warning was issued for Alaska while they were en route.

“We tried to stay calm,” Dietrich recalled. “My 16-year-old and 13-year-old obviously knew what was going on, so they were freaking out. My 8-year-old was scared, but we just tried to keep them busy and not talk about it too much.”

When Dietrich took the children to the kids' club to distract them from the incident, all the other mothers panicked, not knowing what to do and what would happen.

At 8:52 p.m. local time, the captain sent his first message to passengers over the loudspeaker—about four hours after passengers first heard the news online. It was a traumatic four hours for families on board.

Erin Dietrich Family

PHOTO: NVCC

"We are monitoring tsunami warnings and are taking all measures with local coast guards and pilotage agencies to ensure the safety of our passengers," the captain said, adding: "The health and safety of our guests is our top priority... We appreciate your understanding and we will continue to update as more information becomes available."

The family made it through the night and experienced relatively calm conditions, despite Dietrich saying there were strong winds. Aside from the pools and decks being closed, everything went on as normal. Afterwards, the cruise ship remained on course.

As of 5:27 p.m. local time on July 29, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System canceled the tsunami warning for coastal areas of southeastern Alaska. However, as of 9:20 a.m. local time, a tsunami advisory remained in effect for Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

“But we were out at sea, which they say is one of the safest places to be on a ship,” Dietrich said.

Marina in Sitka, Alaska

PHOTO: GETTY

According to a July 30 advisory from the National Weather Service's Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, boat operators are advised to "move your boat out to sea at a depth of at least 180 feet (about 55 meters). If at sea, avoid entering shallow waters, harbors, marinas, bays and estuaries to avoid floating and submerged debris and strong currents."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khach-ke-lai-gio-phut-hoang-loan-tren-sieu-du-thuyen-luc-song-than-185250804113239001.htm