UPDATE:
The Agence France Presse reports that Chilean authorities said residents on Easter Island, a famed tourist spot roughly 2,200 miles away from mainland, are being evacuated to higher points. Meanwhile waves roughly 2 feet high hit the coastal areas of Mexico's Baja Coast, and tourists in the popular towns of Los Cabos and Acapulco were told to stay inside their hotels far from the beaches.
PREVIOUSLY:
Following the earthquake in Japan, the U.S. State Department "strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid tourism and non-essential travel to Japan" through April 1.
The State Department notes that "Tokyo airports are currently closed; other airports in Japan may be closed or have restricted access. Public transportation, including trains and subways are closed in the Tokyo area, and service has been interrupted in other areas as well. Many roads have been damaged in Tokyo and in northern Japan. Strong aftershocks are likely for weeks following a strong earthquake such as this one." (*SEE PHOTOS & VIDEO BELOW*)
Honolulu International Airport is still open, but airports on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island have been closed and Continental, American and Delta are waiving change fees for affected passengers, according to BBC Today. Earlier on Friday, Hawaiian hotels started "vertical evacuations" on the shoreline.
MSNBC reports that roughly 13,000 people are stranded at Tokyo's Narita Airport and 10,000 people are stranded at Haneda Airport.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle Delta has canceled 29 flights (out of their 60 daily flights) to and from Narita and Haneda airports.
Meanwhile, inside the Delta Sky Lounge on Friday morning at Narita Airport, CNN iReporter Richard Dong filmed the massive earthquake from inside.
BBC Travel reports that Google has already created a 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Crisis Resource Center complete with emergency contact information and person find tool.
WATCH chilling video the tsunami passing through Sendai airport below:
See photos of stranded passengers at airports and train stations below.
