Magnitude 8.8 quake in Russia's Far East prompts widespread tsunami warnings

An 8-point-8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders across Pacific nations including Japan.

Centered on the Kamchatka Peninsula the earthquake ranks as the sixth-strongest ever recorded and generated tsunami waves of up to four meters high.

A state of emergency was declared after tsunami waves struck the region prompting the evacuation of nearly three hundred residents.

No casualties have been reported thus far.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for "hazardous tsunami waves" across parts of the Pacific including Hawaii.

Authorities in South Korea say no significant impact is expected here.