Tsunami warnings across Pacific with evacuations in US and Japan after 8.8 magnitude earthquake - live updates

LIVE – Updated at 07:45

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered 4-metre (13-foot) tsunami waves and sparked evacuation orders across the Pacific on Wednesday.

The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several people in the remote Russian region, while much of Japan's eastern seaboard - devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011 - was ordered to evacuate.

Watch the live stream of the tsunami here:

Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns across Japan's Pacific coast and evacuation orders were issued for tens of thousands of people.

Workers evacuated the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, where a meltdown following the 2011 tsunami caused a radioactive disaster, operator TEPCO said.

In Hawaii, coastal residents were told to get to high ground or the fourth floor or above of buildings, and the U.S. Coast Guard ordered ships out of harbours as the tsunami approached.

Scroll down for the latest updates from our live blog.

'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii

07:45 , Megan Howe

Josh Green, governor of Hawaii, says there has been no wave of consequence yet.

"So far we have not seen a wave of consequence," he said, but they have seen significant water recede.

Wave activity has not come past the island of Hawaii, he explains, and they expect it will be at least two to three more hours until they can give the "all clear".

In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region

07:41 , Megan Howe 'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii, In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region, Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu, Holidaymakers stand on balconies, Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits, Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says, Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media, US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador, Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation', Japan orders evacuations, No injuries reported in earthquake, Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations, Images show the epicentre of the quake, Where have tsunami alerts been issued?, Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations)

'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii, In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region, Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu, Holidaymakers stand on balconies, Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits, Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says, Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media, US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador, Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation', Japan orders evacuations, No injuries reported in earthquake, Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations, Images show the epicentre of the quake, Where have tsunami alerts been issued?, Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

People being evacuated after the earthquake (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations)

'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii, In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region, Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu, Holidaymakers stand on balconies, Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits, Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says, Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media, US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador, Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation', Japan orders evacuations, No injuries reported in earthquake, Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations, Images show the epicentre of the quake, Where have tsunami alerts been issued?, Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

People being evacuated after the earthquake (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations)

Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu

07:30 , Megan Howe

The tallest wave to have hit Hawaii so far was measures at 4ft by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at Haleiwa, Oahu.

Holidaymakers stand on balconies

07:21 , Megan Howe

Holidaymakers have been pictured standing on balconies at the Alohilani Resort looking towards Waikiki Beach after authorities warned of the possibility of tsunami waves.

Guests have been told to get to higher ground.

'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii, In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region, Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu, Holidaymakers stand on balconies, Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits, Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says, Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media, US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador, Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation', Japan orders evacuations, No injuries reported in earthquake, Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations, Images show the epicentre of the quake, Where have tsunami alerts been issued?, Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

Holidaymakers stand on balconies at the Alohilani Resort (REUTERS)

'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii, In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region, Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu, Holidaymakers stand on balconies, Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits, Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says, Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media, US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador, Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation', Japan orders evacuations, No injuries reported in earthquake, Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations, Images show the epicentre of the quake, Where have tsunami alerts been issued?, Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

Holidaymakers stand on balconies at the 'Alohilani Resort' looking towards Waikiki Beach (REUTERS)

Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits

07:16 , Megan Howe

Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says

07:15 , Megan Howe

Tsunami waves are "now impacting Hawaii", the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says in an update.

"Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property," it adds, warning that the danger may persist for hours.

Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media

07:14 , Megan Howe

A power grid has been damaged in Sakhalin as a result of the earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Electricity has also been shut off, according to preliminary information, Russia's RIA news agency cited regional governor as saying on Wednesday.

US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador

07:12 , Megan Howe

Three-metre (10 ft) tsunami waves could hit Ecuador following the tremor, according to the US Tsunami warning centre.

Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation'

07:11 , Megan Howe

Officials in Hawaii have ordered an “immediate evacuation” of large parts of the island Oahu, including the state capital Honolulu.

"Take Action! Destructive tsunami waves are expected," Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management say on social media.

Japan orders evacuations

07:08 , Megan Howe

Japan has urged residents in affected areas to evacuate immediately.

"Escape to a higher, safe location right away. The time of the tsunami's arrival is just an estimate. Waves could actually arrive sooner or later. Continue to evacuate as long as the warning is in place," authorities say in an alert.

Meteorologists have forecasted that tsunami waves could reach as high as 3-4m.

No injuries reported in earthquake

07:05 , Megan Howe

There were no injuries reported after the strongest earthquake "in decades" off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, but evacuation was ordered for a small town in the Sakhalin region after a tsunami warning, regional governors said.

"Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app.

He said that according to preliminary information there were no injuries, but a kindergarten was damaged.

Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko said on Telegram an evacuation order was declared for the small town of Severo-Kurilsk after a tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake.

Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations

07:04 , Megan Howe

A powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, generating a tsunami of up to 4 metres (13 feet), prompting evacuations and damaging buildings, officials said.

"Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors," Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app.

He added that according to preliminary information there were no injuries, but a kindergarten was damaged.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was shallow at a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles), and was centred about 125 km (80 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city of 165,000 along the coast of Avacha Bay.

Images show the epicentre of the quake

06:58 , Megan Howe

This image from the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows the epicentre of the 8.7 earthquake that hit off of Russia's far east on July 30.

It is one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded.

'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii, In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region, Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu, Holidaymakers stand on balconies, Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits, Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says, Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media, US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador, Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation', Japan orders evacuations, No injuries reported in earthquake, Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations, Images show the epicentre of the quake, Where have tsunami alerts been issued?, Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

(US Geological Survey/AFP via Get)

'No wave of consequence yet' says governor of Hawaii, In photos: Rescuers evacuating people in Russia's Kamchatka region, Wave of 4ft recorded on coast of Oahu, Holidaymakers stand on balconies, Video shows cars shaking as earthquake hits, Waves now impacting Hawaii, warning centre says, Power grid damaged in Sakhalin, says Russian media, US Tsunami warning centre says waves could hit Ecuador, Hawaii officials order 'immediate evacuation', Japan orders evacuations, No injuries reported in earthquake, Tsunami of up to four metres prompts evacuations, Images show the epicentre of the quake, Where have tsunami alerts been issued?, Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

(US Geological Survey/AFP via Get)

Where have tsunami alerts been issued?

06:55 , Megan Howe

Tsunami warnings have been issued for the following:

  • Japan - Warnings have been issued for coastal regions from Hokkaido to Kyushu
  • Hawaii
  • All of the US West Coast
  • Guam
  • Parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands

Massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude triggers tsunami warnings

06:51 , Megan Howe

A huge 8.7 magnitude earthquake has struck off Russia’s far eastern coast, triggering tsunami warnings across parts of Russia, Japan and the United States.

Follow The Standard’s live blog for the latest updates.

Post Related