Earthquake near the Kuril Islands
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean, prompting warnings of hazardous tsunami waves in the adjoining areas.
About the Earthquake
The earthquake was of the magnitude 7.5 and it originated at a depth of 56.7km, about 1,400km away from Sapporo of Japan. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) had issued warnings for hazardous tsunami waves for areas within 1,000km of the epicentre. However, only small tsunami waves were recorded.
About Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands is a chain of islands located in the Pacific Ocean. It has 2 chains: the Greater Kuril Chain and the Lesser Kuril Chain. It separates the North Pacific Ocean from the Sea of Okhotsk. It is a volcanic archipelago with 56 islands and many minor rocks.
Kuril Islands Dispute
The Kuril Islands are currently under the administration of Russia. The islands are disputed among Russia, Japan and the Ainu people. The Ainu people are the original inhabitants of the islands. Japan refers to the disputed territories as the Northern Territories.
