A 7.2 magnitude struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka region at a depth of 51 km (32 miles), the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said on Saturday.
The quake, which struck at 8.10pm UK time was recorded at a depth of around 29km (18 miles), according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said.
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center said there was a tsunami threat from the quake, saying that waves “reaching 0.3m-1m” above tide level were possible in some Russian coastal areas.
It added that any possible tsunami or strong waves would likely hit around 8.30-9pm, UK time.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the impacts of the quake were likely to be limited regarding possible landslides or liquefaction and there was a “low likelihood” of casualties.
The earthquake could be felt over 100km (62 miles) away from the epicentre, the USGS added.
The local emergencies ministry said tremors were felt along the coast including in the region´s capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and “operational teams of rescuers and firefighters are inspecting buildings”.
It also reported that there was no threat of tsunami and that the recorded aftershocks from the quake ranged in their magnitude from 3.9 to 5.0.
“Most of the aftershocks are imperceptible,” the regional emergency authority said on Telegram.
The area is in a seismically active belt that surrounding most of the Pacific Ocean, known as the “Ring of Fire”, and contains more than two dozen active volcanoes.
The area was also hit by a 9-magnitude earthquake in 1952, which was said to have triggered a large tsunami.
It comes after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Japan earlier this month on the southwestern island of Kyushu.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said after the quake on 8 August said tsunami waves of up 50 centimetres (1.6ft) were detected along parts of Kyushu’s southern coast and the nearby island of Shikoku about half an hour after the quake struck.