A magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula (52.4 degrees north latitude and 160.2 degrees east longitude) at 7:24 a.m. Beijing Time on Wednesday, according to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). Within the next hour, two significant aftershocks were recorded: a 6.9-magnitude tremor followed by a 6.0-magnitude quake.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the magnitude as 8.0, while the China Earthquake Networks Center reported it as a magnitude-7.9 quake, with the epicenter located at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The quake was shallow and powerful enough to generate large waves or a tsunami. Tsunami warnings were issued across multiple regions, including Russia, Japan, the U.S., Canada, Indonesia and the Philippines, according to China Media Group.

According to the warning center of China's Ministry of Natural Resources, while the earthquake has the potential to trigger a trans-oceanic tsunami, it is unlikely to cause destructive effects along China's coast.

A tsunami surge of 3 to 4 meters was detected in parts of Kamchatka, said Sergei Lebedev, Russia's regional minister for emergency situations. In a social media post, he urged residents in affected areas to move away from the shoreline and head to higher ground.

The Russian Academy of Sciences confirmed that the largest quake recorded on Wednesday reached magnitude 8.5, with several strong aftershocks ranging from magnitude 5.1 to 6.6.

Japan's Meteorological Agency upgraded its tsunami warning on Wednesday, forecasting waves of up to 3 meters in some areas. Seventeen regions across Japan issued tsunami alerts, including Pacific coastal areas of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, and Wakayama. Local authorities have urged the public to stay away from coastlines and riverbanks.

At approximately 10:17 a.m. local time, the agency confirmed that the first wave of the tsunami had reached Nemuro in Hokkaido, with a maximum wave height of approximately 0.3 meters. In response, the Tokyo Electric Power Company suspended the release of contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant due to tsunami concerns. The company has issued evacuation instructions to staff and is closely monitoring the situation.

The tsunami is expected to reach Miyazaki, Oita, Kagoshima, and Okinawa at around 12:30 p.m. local time, with waves predicted to be about 1 meter high.

The Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka has issued an urgent advisory to Chinese citizens in the affected areas, urging them to stay updated on tsunami warnings and disaster prevention information. Citizens are advised to leave coastal areas, ports, and river mouths immediately and seek higher ground for safety.

Watch: Japan issues tsunami warning due to strong earthquake near Russia