Two Earthquakes Hit Russian Kuril Islands

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RIA Novosti, August 6, 2010

Sergey Krivosheyev -

Two minor to moderate earthquakes have been registered over the past 24 hours in the Pacific Ocean near Russia's Kuril Islands, a spokesman for the regional emergencies ministry center said Friday.

"Then first quake measuring magnitude 6.1 struck near Simushir Island in the central Kurils on Thursday morning," the official told RIA Novosti.

"The second 4-magnitude tremor was registered on Thursday afternoon in the same area at the depth of 33 kilometers [about 20 miles]," he said.

No casualties, destruction or tsunami threat have been reported.

The Kuril Islands form part of the ring of tectonic instability encircling the Pacific Ocean referred to as the Ring of Fire.

The chain has around 100 volcanoes, some 40 of which are active, and has been registering frequent seismic activity since November 2006, when an 8.2-magnitude quake near Simushir raised fears of an imminent tsunami.

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