The tsunami that thrashed California’s coast, triggered by the devastating earthquake in Japan, has caused damage totalling about $50 million in the west coast state. Experts have said this estimate is “preliminary” and costs will go up in the coming days.

“It (the cost) is going to go up. This is an expensive event for California,” the Los Angeles Times quoted Humboldt Earthquake Education Centre director Lori Dengler as saying. The two ports in the state that were hit hardest were Crescent City and Santa Cruz.