AUTHOR javno100



WASHINGTON

JANUARY 15 2009 19:28h

Quake Of 7.3 Magnitude Hits Off Far Eastern Russia

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USGS said earlier the quake was 7.7 magnitude and then 7.5 magnitude but later revised that downwards.

A large earthquake of 7.3 magnitude struck in the ocean off the Kuril Islands in far eastern Russia, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday.

The epicenter of the quake was 21.7 miles (35 km) deep and 266 miles (428 km) south of Severo-Kuril'sk in the Kuril Islands, which also lie northeast of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

There was no immediate tsunami warning from the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

USGS said earlier the quake was 7.7 magnitude and then 7.5 magnitude but later revised that downwards.