A massive 8.9 earthquake struck northern Japan and caused a massive tsunami killing hundreds in northeastern Japan. Hawaii was also hit but escaped major damage. Santa Cruz got slammed pretty hard, check the exclusive photos here.

According to a report on the LA Times, a tsunami alert has been put into place for the Hawaiian Islands, and other Pacific Ocean islands including New Zealand, and New Guinea.

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no destructive widespread tsunami threat existed. But the agency added that earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that could be destructive along coasts located within 60 miles of the quake epicenter.