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U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

A USGS map shows the location of the epicenter of the magnitude 8.0 quake off Russia this afternoon.

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A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia this afternoon, prompting a tsunami watch for Hawaii.

The temblor struck at 1:25 p.m. Hawaii time, 82.8 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka, Russia, at a depth of 46 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Based on available data, officials at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin that “a tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake that could be destructive” to coastal areas far from the epicenter. An investigation is underway to determine whether there is a threat to Hawaii.

If tsunami waves affect the state, the earliest estimated arrival time would be 7:17 p.m. today.

This is the second time in less than two weeks that Hawaii has been under a tsunami watch. On the night of July 19, a watch was issued for about 39 minutes after a magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck off Russia, however, no tsunami was generated.