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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sean Morrison

Powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes near Russia's Kuril Islands sparking tsunami warning

The earthquake struck off the coast of Russia's Kuril Islands (Picture: Shutterstock / knyazev vasily (file photo))

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake has struck near Russia’s far eastern Kuril Islands and prompted a tsunami warning.

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck 135 miles south-southeast of Severo on the Kuril chain north of Japan.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 620 miles of the quake’s epicentre.

It added earthquakes of this strength in the past have caused tsunamis far from the epicentre, and the US National Tsunami Warning Centre was analysing the event to determine the level of danger.

The quake was 56 kilometres (37 miles) deep, according to the US Geological Survey.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a tsunami watch was issued for the state of Hawaii.

"Tsunami waves are forecast to be less than 0.3 meters above the tide level," an advisory about risks to the coasts of Hawaii, Japan, Russia and the Pacific islands of Midway, the Northern Marianas and Wake Island read.

The height is equivalent to just under a foot.

The Japan Meteorological Association warned against slight tidal changes but said no warnings or even watch advisories had been issued.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties

More follows…

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