A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's Pacific coast on Tuesday, sparking tsunami warnings -- and evacuations of coastal areas -- in Hawaii and alerts for other areas of the U.S. West Coast.

A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia’s Far East is sending tsunami waves to Hawaii, Alaska, California and Oregon. More countries, like Peru and Chile, are bracing for impact.

A powerful earthquake off Russia’s coast triggered tsunami waves that reached across the Pacific, prompting evacuations as far as Chile and Peru. Experts explain how sudden shifts in the ocean can send waves traveling more than 500 mph thousands of miles away.