Magnitude 5.0 earthquake strikes off northern Kuril Islands

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off the coast of the northern Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean, with tremors felt on Paramushir Island, according to the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk seismic station.

The epicentre was located 80 kilometres southeast of Severo-Kurilsk, a city on Paramushir Island. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 50 kilometres beneath the seabed, Russian media reported via the centre.

Seismic specialists said residents of Severo-Kurilsk may have experienced shaking of up to three points. No tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake.

The latest tremor comes two days after a magnitude 5.1 earthquake was reported off the Kuril Islands on September 21. That earthquake was centred 46 kilometres southwest of Krabozavodskoye, a settlement on Shikotan Island, where residents could have felt shaking of up to four points.

By Tamilla Hasanova