Powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes north of Japan

TOKYO – A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck in seas off far northern Japan and far eastern Russia, but no damage was expected.

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

The tremor around midday was in the Pacific Ocean at a relatively shallow depth of 6.2 miles. Japan and Russia both claim some of the sparsely populated islands in the remote region.

The epicenter was 160 miles east-northeast of Kuril'sk, Russia, and 328 miles northeast of Nemuro, Japan.

The area is almost 930 miles northeast of Tokyo.