6.4-magnitude earthquake strikes near Russia's Kuril islands

VLADIVOSTOK, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A 6.4-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday struck near the Russian Kuril Islands, according to the press service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Sakhalin oblast.

The earthquake's epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, 69 km deep and about 130 km southeast of Kurilsk.

No casualties or damage were reported initially. Inspections of buildings and infrastructure are in progress, with services operating normally. ■