Taiwan, Philippine on tsunami alert after Japan quake

Taiwan's central weather bureau on Friday warned people living on its east and northeast coasts to be on guard for tsunamis set off by a major quake off Japan.

The Philippines also warned people living on its entire east coast to be on alert for the possibility of tsunamis after a major quake off Japan, the government's seismology agency

Russia's emergency ministry issued a tsunami warning Friday for the Kuril Island chain after a powerful quake struck off Japan, officials said.

"A potential tsunami warning is declared for the Kuril chain that includes four islands claimed by Japan," a spokeswoman for regional emergencies ministry told AFP.

"People are being evacuated," spokeswoman Yekaterina Potvorova said. She added that the tsunami warning did not include the nearby Sakhalin Island. (AFP)