A record-setting earthquake is sending tsunami waves toward several US states. Here’s what we know

A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s remote east coast Wednesday local time, sending tsunami waves coursing across the Pacific as millions of people from around the world were urged to evacuate to higher ground.

The quake is tied for the sixth-strongest ever recorded, and is the strongest since 2011, when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit northeast Japan, triggering a devastating tsunami.

Several large tsunami waves, including some over five feet (1.5 meters), have hit Hawaii as the state’s governor warned the impact “will wrap around the islands.” In Japan, more than 1.9 million people were told to evacuate as waves, some measuring over four feet (1.3 meters) hit the country’s northern and eastern coasts.

Tsunami warnings and advisories are in effect for California and the rest of the US West Coast as further tsunami waves are expected. Countries including Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Peru and Ecuador also issued warnings.

Honolulu resident Adam Jung pushes water and other supplies out of a store after authorities warned residents of the possibility of destructive tsunami waves, in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Wednesday. - Marco Garcia/Reuters

It’s too early to say how damaging any tsunami waves may be and initial impacts have been minimal.

But experts across the Pacific warn the scale of waves can vary greatly in different locations and are urging the public to stay away from coastlines. Tsunami waves can also continue to impact coastlines hours after they first hit.

Here’s what we know.

Where did the quake hit?

The earthquake’s epicenter is about 74 miles (119 kilometers) southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city, on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far east Russia, at a depth of 20.7 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

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Kamchatka, which is sparsely populated, is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

Two powerful aftershocks of 6.3 and 6.9 magnitudes struck off Russia in the hour after the initial quake. Dozens more aftershocks above a 5 magnitude also struck the region in the immediate hours after.

What areas may be affected?

The earthquake triggered tsunami alerts from Russia, in the eastern Pacific, to Ecuador and Chile, thousands of miles away across the Pacific Ocean.

Tsunami waves began reaching Hawaii’s coast early evening local time, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A tsunami wave over five feet was reported in Kahului, on the north-central shore of Maui island, according to the NOAA.

A tsunami wave measuring 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) was observed at Kuji Port in Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which added that tsunami waves were growing.

Tsunami warnings - the most severe type of tsunami alert - are currently in place for Hawaii and the California coast from Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border.

Tsunami advisories – a lesser alert level – are in place for the rest of the US West Coast and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, as well as British Columbia, Canada.

The governments of Chile, Peru and Ecuador also issued tsunami alerts. Ecuador’s Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute said the Galapagos Islands could see a wave measuring 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) by 9 a.m. local time.

The Integrated Tsunami Alert System of Mexico and Central America has issued a tsunami alert that stretches from Ensenada, on Mexico’s northwest coast, to the Central American country of Panama.

Advisories were also in place for several Pacific US territories, including Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

Big waves hit Hawaii

As Hawaii braced for impact, Honolulu’s mayor told residents to seek higher ground as sirens blared across the city, and emergency shelters began opening in the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Maui.

“We need people to stay calm but also to act accordingly. If you can get to higher ground if you’re in a low-lying area, please do that,” Rick Blangiardi said.

Gov. Josh Green urged residents to evacuate coastal zones “right” away in a news conference.

After the first waves hit, Green said, “So far we have not seen a wave of consequence, which is a great relief to us.” He added that no damage had been reported so far, and there hasn’t yet been wave activity traveling past Hawaii’s Big Island.

Traffic builds on S Beretania Street near downtown Honolulu after authorities warned residents of the possibility of destructive tsunami waves, in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Wednesday. - Marco Garcia/Reuters

Hotels along the west coast of Big Island were evacuating guests Tuesday evening local time. All flights in and out of Maui have been canceled for the night, leaving about 200 people sheltering at the terminal, the governor said.

Evacuations in Japan as first waves hit

The first tsunami waves have hit the coasts of Japan, Russia, Alaska, and Hawaii but minimal damage has been reported so far.

Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido was one of the first places to report tsunami waves, measuring up to 60 centimeters (2 feet), along with parts of Russia. Tsunami sirens could be heard blaring through parts of the island on Wednesday morning. Video shared by Reuters and the Nippon News Network showed people taking refuge on a roof.

More than 1.9 million people across Japan have been urged to move to safer ground, as waves up to 50 cm (1.6 feet) slap the country’s east coast, inching closer to Tokyo. That’s far below the initial forecast of up to three meters, though that could change, and additional waves could follow.

In the Russian district of Severo-Kurilsk, near the epicenter of the earthquake, a state of emergency was issued after tsunami waves lashed the coast, tearing boats from their moorings and carrying away storage containers, according to state media TASS and videos from the scene.

Nearly 300 people were evacuated from the port, regional emergency services told state-run RIA News. A tsunami wave of 3-4 meters high was recorded in the Yelizovo District of Kamchatka, according to Russian authorities.

Meanwhile, a tidal rise of 1 foot was observed by the volcanic island of Amchitka, Alaska, at around 5:14 p.m. Pacific Time.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNN’s Helen Regan, Jessie Yeung, Brandon Miller, Angela Fritz, Nina Subkhanberdina, Tori B. Powell, Taylor Romine, Briana Waxman, Matt Rehbein, Karina Tsui, Alex Stambaugh, Kathleen Magramo and Hanna Park contributed reporting.