That's what it's about

• A tsunami warning triggers panic on an island, and cruise ships leave port early.
• Passengers who do not return in time remain on land and seek shelter on higher ground.
• Videos show chaotic scenes as people desperately try to reach the ships.

When the tsunami warning sounded across the island, everything happened very quickly. Videos on social media show cruise ships leaving the port early for fear of high waves—leaving dozens of terrified passengers stranded on dry land.

The video, shot by Briton Demi Freeman on board the cruise ship, shows fellow passengers desperately running along the dock, trying to reach the ship before it departs. Freeman, however, also worries about the safety of the passengers on board:"This is really crazy. We'll be out at sea during the tsunami."

600 passengers did not make it onto the ship

Rachael Burrows from Macclesfield, England, also made it onto the ship in time. Rachael told BBC Breakfast about the moment she read a message on her phone that she was in imminent danger due to a severe earthquake. The British woman and her group immediately made their way back to the ship.

It was pretty scary because all the sirens were going off, Rachael said. The shops were closed, and people were getting into their cars to leave the coastal zones. Everyone was just running. She was one of the last to be allowed back on the ship. In total, around 600 people didn't make it onto the ship, Rachael told the Daily Mail.

People cry

Those left behind were told to seek higher ground. Among them is a woman from Texas who recounts her experience on her TikTok account, Mandythecruiseplanner. We made it to the port, but the ship had already left, she lamented in one of her videos. She continued:"Nobody knows what's going on, our bus driver has no idea what's happening. We have family on the ship, and they're scared for us. We're terrified for ourselves."

She says she didn't expect such an experience. People are crying. An employee is yelling at people, and people are yelling at the employee. It's crazy.