A lecturer in Oceanography at the University of Southampton told the Associated Press that an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia is "significant" but doubts that corresponding tsunamis will be as large. Dr Simon Boxall said the tsunamis spreading throughout the Pacific Rim are "not huge" and that they will "not cause mass devastation." But he added that the waves will still cause coastal flooding and "put lives at risk if people don't move to high ground." A tsunami hit coastal areas of Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan after a powerful, 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia early Wednesday.