More than 11,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas of Russia's Kuril Islands after a series of powerful quakes hit Japan, a Russian Emergencies Ministry official said.
Local authorities issued a tsunami warning for the Kuril Islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, after the 8.9 quake struck off Japan's eastern coast, followed by a 7.1-magnitude aftershock.
Waves up to three meters high triggered by the earthquake hit Shikotan, one of the Kuril Islands, following the quake. Other islands in the Kuril chain have also been hit by smaller waves of up to two meters.
A series of 5.0-magnitude aftershocks have shaken the islands, killing no-one and causing no serious destruction.
Another tsunami is expected to reach the island of Kunashir later in the day, after which the tsunami warning on the Kuril Islands will be withdrawn, the official said.
MOSCOW, March 11 (RIA Novosti)
