Magnitude-7.7 earthquake hits off Russia, tsunami alert issued

A magnitude-7.7 earthquake rippled the waters off the coast of Nikol'skoye, Russia late Monday night, the US Geological Survey

said.

US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a

tsunami warning with waves forecast to be less than 0.3 meters (1 foot)

above the tide level for coasts in an area ranging from Russia to

Hawaii.

The epicenter, at a depth of 11.7 kilometers, was initially determined to

be at 54.2 degrees north latitude and 169.2 degrees east longitude.