Update: 12:30 p.m.

The Central Weather Administration has changed its alert from a tsunami watch to a warning and estimates that the tsunami wave height in Taiwan's southeastern coastal areas will be about 0.3 to 1 meters at 1:19 p.m. The wave height in southwestern coastal areas will be about 0.3 to 1 meter at 1:31 p.m.

Wave heights of less than 1 meter are predicted on the east coast at 1:18 p.m., northeast coast at 1:24 p.m., and north coast at 1:41 p.m. The coast along the Taiwan Strait is expected to see waves of less than one meter at 1:45 p.m.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has issued a tsunami watch on Wednesday after a magnitude earthquake struck off the easternmost part of Russia. 

According to the US Geological Survey, an earthquake initially reported as magnitude 8.0 struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25 a.m. Taiwan time, per CNA. The magnitude was later upgraded to magnitude 8.8, per CNN.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has raised its tsunami advisory to a tsunami warning for its Pacific coastal areas, with waves up to three meters expected in some areas. Coastal residents have been urged to immediately evacuate to higher ground.

The Central Weather Administration has issued a tsunami watch and is closely monitoring any subsequent impacts. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center assessed that the quake may pose a tsunami threat across the Pacific region, with Hawaii and Alaska under a tsunami watch.