8.8 magnitude quake strikes off Russia’s Far East. Tsunami waves reach Japan, Hawaii and California

One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded has hit off Russia’s sparsely populated Far East. It sent tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. Several people were injured, but none gravely, and no major damage has been reported so far. Authorities warned the risk from Wednesday’s 8.8 magnitude quake could last for hours. Millions of people potentially in the path of the waves were initially told to move away from the shore or seek high ground. But the danger already appeared to be lessening, with Hawaii and parts of Japan downgrading their warnings. Authorities on Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula near the quake’s epicenter canceled their tsunami warning.