Hazardous waves from strong magnitude 8 quake are possible on the coast of Russia and Japan, USGS says

A tsunami alert has been issued for Pacific islands, Russia and Japan after a magnitude 8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey says.

The quake was shallow and strong enough to cause waves or a tsunami, it said.

There was a tsunami threat to the Northern Mariana islands of Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan, it said.