Magnitude 5.5 quake hits Hokkaido island

Seismologists have recorded an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 in the Pacific Ocean near the Japanese island of Hokkaido, according to the Sakhalin branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Report informs via Interfax.

"An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 occurred on Tuesday at 20:11 Sakhalin time (GMT+11) near the east coast of Hokkaido, the source was at a depth of 19 km," the agency's source said.

The seismic event could have been felt in the Southern Kuril Islands in populated areas of the islands of Shikotan and Kunashir with a strength of up to two or three points. No tsunami alert was issued.