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Russian Far East Hit By Okhotsk Earthquake; Tsunami Alert Lifted


A powerful earthquake has hit Russia's Far East region, sending tremors across the country and sparking a short-lived tsunami warning.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, whose epicenter was in the Sea of Okhotsk, east of the Russian coast and north of Japan, had a preliminary magnitude of 8.2.

It struck at a depth of more than 600 kilometers below sea level.

Minor tremors were felt as far as Moscow, prompting some people to evacuate from buildings.

No casualties or injuries have been reported so far.

Russian authorities issued a tsunami warning for the Sakhalin and Kuril islands, urging residents to seek higher ground for safety but lifted the warning shortly afterward.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the main city of nearby Kamchatka Peninsula, is home to a nuclear submarine base, while Sakhalin hosts Russia's largest liquefied natural gas project.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, Interfax, and ITAR-TASS

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