A magnitude-8.8 earthquake in Russia’s Far East early Wednesday prompted tsunami warnings in parts of Japan, Alaska and Hawaii. Damage and evacuations were reported in the Russian regions nearest the epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

One of the world's strongest earthquakes struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand.

Western US states like Washington, Oregon and Alaska, as well as British Colombia in Canada, are on alert. The first waves hit the state of Hawaii (see above) and now California, with initial measurements from the National Tsunami Warning Centre of waves at 0.48m hitting Arena Cove.