Tsunami warnings ease after huge earthquake

ONE of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off Russia's sparsely populated far east yesterday, sending tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the west coast of the United States.

- MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press

Several people were injured, but none seriously, and no major damage has been reported so far.

Authorities warned that 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.

However, the danger already appeared to be lessening in some places, with Hawaii and parts of Japan downgrading their warnings. Authorities on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula, near the quake's epicentre, cancelled their tsunami warning.

Chile upgraded its warning to the highest level for most of its lengthy Pacific coast, though, and said it was evacuating hundreds of people, and Colombian officials ordered the complete closure and evacuation of beaches and low-tide areas while maritime traffic was being restricted.

Education officials in Ecuador cancelled classes at schools in the Galapagos Islands, as well at communities along the coast.