Tsunami Waves Hit Russia, Japan After 8.8 Quake Off Russia’s East

Tsunami waves struck coastal areas of Russia, Japan, and the United States after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, Erin Hale and Virginia Pietromarchi reported for Al Jazeera.

The earthquake occurred 136 kilometers (84 miles) east of the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,

The earthquake occurred 136 kilometers (84 miles) east of the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later downgraded the warning for Hawaii to an advisory, allowing evacuees across the state to return home.

Waves as high as 1.3 meters (4.5 feet) were observed in Kahului, Hawaii, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Smaller waves of 45 cm (1.5 feet) hit Kawaihae, while 30 cm (1 foot) waves reached Hilo Bay.

A tsunami alert was also issued for Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

The U.S. embassy in Port Moresby warned of “potential dangerous coastal flooding and/or strong and unusual currents dangerous to those in or very near the water.”

NOAA reported that the first waves reached San Francisco, California, at 1:12 a.m. local time (08:12 GMT / 4:12 p.m. in Manila). Other cities reporting tsunami waves included Seattle, Monterey, and Eureka, California.

The National Weather Service (NWS) cautioned that the full extent of the impact is still unknown, as waves are expected to build over time.