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() Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast are bracing for strong waves after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Russia on Tuesday afternoon.
The quake was one of the strongest ever recorded, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Several aftershocks were also recorded, inundating Japan with tsunami waves and prompting evacuations and warnings across the Pacific.
The National Weather Service said the first waves hit the West Coast around 1 a.m.
While the tsunami waves remain a threat to coastal areas, leaders in California and Hawaii have eased back their warnings early Wednesday.
affiliates KTLA, KHON and the Associated Press contributed to this report.