Russian agencies have warned a new powerful earthquake near the Pacific's Kuril Islands could trigger a tsunami wave up to 19 centimeters (7.5 inches). A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Russia's Kuril islands on Sunday, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Pacific Tsunami Warning System gauged the quake at 7.0.

A powerful earthquake and a rare volcanic eruption shook Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands, prompting tsunami warnings and raising concerns among emergency officials and seismologists.

An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s eastern coast on late Wednesday morning, local time. The quake triggered tsunami waves across the Pacific that hit Russia, Japan, Canada and parts of the US coast.