In 1995 the 7.0 Neftegorsk earthquake shook the former settlement of Neftegorsk with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX ( '' Violent '' ) . Total damage was $ 64.1 – 300 million , with 1,989 deaths and 750 injured . The settlement was not rebuilt . On 24 April 1996 Sakhalin Oblast , alongside Rostov Oblast , signed a power-sharing agreement with the federal government , granting it autonomy . This agreement would be abolished on 4 March 2002
Neftegorsk earthquake
1995 Neftegorsk earthquake
Sakhalin Oblast