Tsunami alerts eased

ONE of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off Russia's sparsely populated Far East, sending tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast.

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Several people were injured, but none seriously, 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.

But the danger already appeared to be lessening in some places, with Hawaii and parts of Japan downgrading their warnings.