Magnitude 7.2 Quake Rocks North Japan

7.2-magnitude earthquake struck east-northeast of Kuril Islands, off far northern Japan, and far eastern Russia on Friday, but no damage was expected.

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that sea changes were possible but no tsunami warnings have been issued.

No human casualties or damage in properties were reported in the aftermath of the earthquake whose tremors were felt by most people in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago.

The tremor struck around midday in the Pacific Ocean at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The U.S. Geological Survey said that the quake measured a stronger 7.2 magnitude and struck over 500 to north of Hokkaido and 30 km far off Russian-controlled Kuril Islands.