India, July 30 -- Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan's island of Hokkaido were hit by tsunami waves after a powerful, 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia early Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for several states on the western US coast, including Alaska, Hawaii and California.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami as high as 60 centimeters (2 feet) had been detected as the waves moved south along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Tokyo Bay. Over 1.9 million people across Japan were urged to move amid a tsunami threat. Larger waves, up to 3 meters (10 feet), are expected along eastern Honshu and Kyushu later today, prompting evacuations.

According to the latest National Weather Servi...