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.

Tsunami Advisory: Take Action— A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may be flooding of beach and harbor areas. Stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Follow instructions from local officials.

Thanks to this global monitoring system, which has been deployed for more than 20 years, millions of people in Japan and Russia were warned.