(CNN) — Tsunami warnings have been issued for parts of Russia, Japan, and Alaska, as well as all of Hawaii, after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Wednesday off Russia’s remote and sparsely populated far eastern coast.
The earthquake hit about 74 miles (119 kilometers) southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia at a depth of 20.7 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey, which upgraded the quake’s strength from an initial 8 magnitude estimate.
The quake is the strongest on the planet since 2011, when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit northeast Japan, triggering a devastating tsunami.
A tsunami threat was declared in Russia’s Kamchatka’s Peninsula, according to local governor Vladimir Solodov who urged residents to stay clear of coastlines. A tsunami wave 3-4 meters hi