A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, causing significant damage to buildings and generating a tsunami of up to 4 meters (13 feet).

The quake prompted widespread warnings and evacuations across the Pacific Ocean.

Several injuries were reported in the remote region, while Japan’s eastern coastline, still recovering from the catastrophic 2011 earthquake and tsunami, ordered evacuations. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov described the earthquake as “serious” and the strongest in decades.

Regional emergency minister Sergei Lebedev confirmed tsunami waves of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) were recorded, urging residents to move away from the shore.

The US Geological Survey reported the earthquake was shallow, occurring at a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles), and was centered 119 km (74 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

The agency revised the initial magnitude from 8.0 and noted a strong aftershock of magnitude 6.9 shortly afterward.

Japan’s meteorological agency issued an upgraded warning, predicting tsunami waves of up to 3 meters (10 feet) to hit coastal areas starting around 0100 GMT. Tsunami alarms sounded across Japan’s Pacific coast, with authorities advising residents to seek higher ground.

Footage from NHK showed people on rooftops in Hokkaido, sheltering from the sun as fishing boats left harbors to avoid potential damage.

TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant, evacuated workers as a precaution, but no injuries or damage were reported at any nuclear facilities, according to Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The US Tsunami Warning System issued a warning for “hazardous tsunami waves” expected within three hours, alerting that waves exceeding 3 meters could impact parts of Russia and Ecuador, while smaller waves were possible in Japan, Hawaii, Chile, and the Solomon Islands. President Donald Trump urged residents in affected areas to stay informed and safe.

In Hawaii, evacuations were ordered for some coastal regions as the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management warned of destructive tsunami waves. Residents in low-lying areas were advised to seek higher ground.

In Russia, health minister Oleg Melnikov reported several injuries, including incidents related to panic during the quake. Fortunately, all patients were in satisfactory condition, with no serious injuries reported.

The Russian Ministry for Emergency Services confirmed partial flooding at a port and a fish processing plant in Severo-Kurilsk, prompting evacuations, while most structures withstood the quake without fatalities.

Kamchatka, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, experienced its strongest quake since 1952. Experts noted that the shaking intensity was lower than expected for such a magnitude, with ongoing aftershocks but no immediate threat of stronger tremors.