Russian authorities have declared a state of emergency in the northern part of the Kuril Islands, which have already suffered from tsunami waves caused by the earthquake that shook the Pacific coast earlier today, the agencies reported.
"By order of the governor of the region, a state of emergency has been declared in the North Kuril region, where there was an earthquake and tsunami today. About 2,400 people live in the North Kuril region. Residents have been evacuated. There are no reports of more serious damage or injuries," the regional government's press service said.
In the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, over 280,000 people were evacuated, and hundreds of flights and ferry services were canceled; Precautionary speed limits have also been imposed on roads and railways in view of an approaching tropical cyclone, Reuters reported.
The storm, named "Ko-Mai", made landfall in the port city of Zhoushan in Zhejiang province in the early hours of today, and was followed shortly by a tsunami warning due to a strong earthquake in the Russian Far East, which raised fears of larger-than-expected tidal waves along the Chinese coast.
Although the winds of "Ko-Mai" are weaker than those of typhoons, the Chinese financial capital and other cities along the Yangtze River decided not to take any risks.
At least 640 flights have been canceled at Shanghai's two airports, including 410 at Pudong and 230 at Hongqiao. Other local airports are also experiencing problems: 75% of flights were canceled in Zhoushan.
All ferry services have been suspended and drivers have been told to drive at a speed of no more than 60 km/h on highways, local media reported.
The parks "Disneyland" and "Legoland" remain open, but some attractions at Legoland are closed due to weather conditions.
Shanghai is rarely hit by strong typhoons, which usually hit more southern regions of China.
The most significant typhoon to hit China's financial capital in recent years was "Bebinka" last year, which was the strongest since 1949.
After Zhoushan, meteorologists expect "Ko Mai" to make landfall once more, this time closer to Shanghai.
The storm coincided with an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Kamchatka, Russia, which was recorded about 4,000 km away.
The tsunami triggered by the quake is expected to have "devastating consequences" for some coastal parts of China, including Shanghai and Zhoushan.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said a tsunami warning had been issued for the two cities, with waves of about one meter.
Japan had earlier issued a warning for its Pacific coast for waves of about 3 meters.
Tsunamis triggered by earthquakes can travel thousands of kilometers across the ocean without losing their power.