Alaska, Hawaii under tsunami warning, watch

WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) An 8.3-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific triggered tsunami alerts in Alaska and Hawaii that were lifted early today, U S authorities said.

A tsunami warning had been in effect from Sand Point on the southwestern Alaskan Peninsula west across the Aleutian Islands, a 1,000-mile mostly uninhabited chain, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

The center canceled the warning several hours later, reporting a 1-foot tsunami wave at Shemya island, 1,500 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The U S Coast Guard in Alaska said there had been no evacuations.

The powerful north Pacific earthquake prompted tsunami warnings across northern and eastern Japan and Russia and watches for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines and Hawaii.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center canceled the Hawaii watch earlier today.

Small tsunami waves hit northern and eastern Japan, but there were no reports of injuries and no immediate reports of damage.

Tsunami warnings are issued when there is an imminent threat from a large undersea earthquake. Watches provide advance alert to areas that could be affected, according to the centers.

REUTERS SSC BS1605