6.0-magnitude quake strikes east of Kuril Islands

MOSCOW: A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula east of the Russian-administered Kuril island chain Friday, the US Geological Survey reported.

The quake hit at 1958 GMT 132 kilometres (80 miles) southeast of the Russian city of Severo-Kurilsk at a depth of 18.6 kilometres, the USGS said.

An aftershock at 2122 GMT was registered at a magnitude of 4.7 and at a depth of 38 kilometres.

Early Friday, a major 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan further down the island chain, but no tsunami warning was issued. The area is prone to earthquakes.