One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off Russia’s sparsely populated Far East early Wednesday, sending 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 the 8.8 magnitude quake could last for hours, and millions of people potentially in the path of the waves were initially told to move away from the shore or seek high ground.

Warnings were lifted or downgraded in Japan, Hawaii and the affected parts of Russia later Wednesday. But Chile upgraded its warning to the highest level for most of its lengthy Pacific coast, and said it was evacuating hundreds of people.

In the immediate aftermath of the quake off Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula, residents fled inland as ports flooded, and several were injured while rushing to leave buildings.

Cars jammed streets and highways in Honolulu, with standstill traffic even in areas away from the sea. And in Japan, dozens of people flocked to evacuation centers, hilltop parks and rooftops in towns on the Pacific coast with fresh memories of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that caused a nuclear disaster.

Tsunami advisories were also in place along much of the U.S. West Coast and for the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Unusually strong currents and unpredictable surges were expected in places as far away as New Zealand. The National Weather Service warned the San Francisco Bay Area could see “some seriously dangerous currents along beaches and harbors.”

Source: AP