6.9 Quake Hits Off Coast Of Russia's Kuril Islands

Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes the coasts of Russia and Japan

A powerful earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Russia's Kuril Islands early Thursday morning.

The USGS reports a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit 2:33 a.m. Thursday local time, in an area northeast of Japan.

While shaking was reported in the Japanese island of Hokkaido, there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The Japan Meterological Agency reported no tsunami threat to Japan, while the U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami threat to Guam and Saipan.

There are 56 islands in the Kuril Islands, with many of them being rock formations.

These islands are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines, that leave this region vulnerable to sizeable earthquakes.

Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes off Russia's Kuril Islands: USGS

An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck offshore 99 kilometers (62 miles) south-east of Russia’s Kuril Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on Thursday. 

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami threat To Guam, Rota, Tinian or Saipan from the earthquake, which the USGS said hit at a depth of 143 km. 

The Japan Meteorological Agency said there was no tsunami threat to Japan either.