Pacific-wide tsunami alert after 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia
The first tsunami was observed in northern Japan, measuring around 30 centimetres, broadcaster NHK reported.
The wave hit the main northern island of Hokkaido, with NHK warning that subsequent waves could be much higher.
Russia's emergencies ministry said a tsunami hit and flooded the port town of Severo-Kurilsk, where the population of around 2000 people was evacuated, after a magnitude-8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula at 7.34pm Eastern Time (9.34am AEST).
Wednesday's quake is being hailed the world's biggest in 14 years, the largest since the catastrophic 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Tsunami warnings have been issued for much of the US West Coast.
The US Tsunami Warning Centers said that waves exceeding three metres above the tide level were possible along some coasts of Ecuador, northwestern Hawaiian islands and Russia.
Between one and three metre waves were possible along some coasts of Chile, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, and other islands and island groups in the Pacific, it said.
Waves of up to one metre were possible elsewhere, including British Colombia in Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Tonga and Taiwan.
The Bureau of Metereology said there is no tsunami threat to Australia.
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