Welcome to the News Hour. A major earthquake off the coast of Russia triggered widespread tsunami warnings, alerts, and evacuations all across the Pacific.

It was the strongest quake on the planet since 2011 and the six largest ever recorded.

Moderate waves hit the shores of Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. In South America, clear across the Pacific from where

the quake happened, several countries and island territories remain on alert tonight, but so far

most of the damage has been minor and without serious injuries. Stephanie Sy, leads our coverage.

In far eastern Russia, one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history rattled homes and businesses.

The 8.8 magnitude quake toppled parts of buildings, like the facade of this kindergarten.

And thousands of miles from the epicenter, residents of Hawaii swarmed inland as tsunami alerts went off.

Officials issued warnings to stay vigilant.

Please take this very seriously and don't, don't go down to the beach.

Don't be looking at waves. Get yourself as high as you possibly can.

In Japan, this aerial view of the eastern coast shows the menacing approach of the ocean.

The powerful quake struck off the east coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings in Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast.

The threat reached clearer across the world, with Chile today upgrading its warning to the highest level and ordering evacuations.

In Russia, video showed the tremors hitting during surgery at an area hospital, doctors and nurses

bracing to hold the patient steady. Cliffs were shaken

from their foundations, cascading into the sea, which swelled with fury not long after the

quake. The waves hit Russia's coasts first, sending a wall of water inland and flooding ports.

Eyewitness video captured the rushing waters carrying entire buildings away.

It's a bit like throwing a very, very large rock into the sea and then watching the waves

propagate away from that rock, that splash. And so that's what's happened in this case.

And that's why this particular one has generated a tsunami. It's not huge.

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