A powerful undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Monday, prompting widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific. The tremor, which occurred at around 03:17 local time near the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, is among the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in recent history, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Authorities across the region are on high alert, with alerts issued for coastal areas spanning from Russia’s northern Kuril Islands to Hawaii, and stretching as far east as the U.S. West Coast.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) confirmed that tsunami waves have already begun reaching several shores. Alaska was the first to experience the impact, while Hawaii reported waves up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall at Haleiwa on Oahu’s north shore. These waves have been arriving at 12-minute intervals, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

Following the main quake, multiple aftershocks were reported, including a particularly strong one measuring 6.9 in magnitude.

In the U.S., tsunami warnings and advisories are active for various regions, including Hawaii, parts of Alaska’s Aleutian chain, and sections of Northern California. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and PTWC continue to track wave movements and update impact estimates for affected areas.

Japan has also taken significant precautionary steps, with nearly two million residents advised to leave coastal areas. In some places, like Chiba prefecture’s Inage Beach, local officials established safety perimeters to prevent public access.

Emergency services remain on standby across multiple nations, as residents and visitors are urged to follow evacuation orders and remain away from beaches and low-lying coastal zones until the threat has passed.