People evacuated from Russia Kuril Islands due to tsunami threat

Residents of Kuril Islands, in Russia's Far East, are being evacuated due to the threat of tsunami roused by a quake in Chile, a spokesman for the local administration said.

He said that the expected height of waves to hit the regional coast is some 2 meters (6.6 feet).

"The inland of the North Kuril Islands is not subjected to the threat," he said.

An 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit Chile in the early hours of Saturday killing at least 300 people, according to local authorities.

The tremor occurred some 89 kilometers (55.3 miles) to the north of Chile's second largest city Concepcion, some 341 kilometers (212 miles) from the capital Santiago.

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, February 28 (RIA Novosti)