A tsunami alert was issued in the Sakhalin region in Russia's Far East shortly after a massive earthquake measuring 8.8 magnitude hit northeastern Japan Friday.

According to Russia's state news agency, RIA Novosti, the regional Tsunami Research Center, Sakhalin AHEM, declared the warning for coastal communities of three districts of the Sakhalin region: Yuzhno-Kuril, Kuril and Northern Kuril.

People in these areas were being evacuated to safe places. Possible consequences of the passage of tsunami waves were being calculated.

Rescuers have called on local residents in the threatened areas to leave the coast immediately and take shelter in nearby hills, 30-40 meters above the sea level.

Emergency services were on alert to respond to the consequences of the tsunami.