"This is the strongest earthquake in the entire instrumental period, with a magnitude of 8.8. Regular, prolonged aftershocks are expected," Solodov wrote on Telegram.
There are no casualties or damage after a powerful earthquake and three tsunami waves hit Russia's Sakhalin Region, Governor Valery Limarenko said.
The authorities believe that electrical networks were damaged, but do not know the scale, the official said, adding that electricity was cut off.
"The third wave was the strongest, and it flooded both the port and the fish processing plant. But by that time, all the people had already risen to the surface. Our Northern Kurilians are very experienced, this is not the first time this has happened to them, 2,400 people carefully rose to the heights, and they are still there, because we are waiting for a signal that there will be no more tsunamis," Limarenko said.