Powerful 7.0 quake hits in Pacific Ocean north of Japan, far east of Russia

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A 7.0-MAGNITUDE earthquake has struck in seas off far northern Japan and far eastern Russia but no damage was expected, Sky News reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said sea changes were possible. No tsunami warnings have been issued.

The tremour struck around midday in the Pacific Ocean at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The US Geological Survey measured a stronger 7.2 magnitude.

Japan and Russia both claim some of the sparsely populated islands in the remote region.

The epicentre was 58 kilometres east-northeast of Kuril’sk, Russia, and 528 kilometres northeast of Nemuro, Japan.

The nearest land is the volcanic islands of Urup, Iturup and Sumushir. Hokkaido officials said the islands were not under Japanese control.

The area is about 1,500 kilometres northeast of Tokyo.