US reports 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Siberia

WASHINGTON, Apr 21 (Reuters) The US Geological Survey has reported a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Russian Siberia, 6290 km north/northeast of Moscow, 12:25 pm today local time 0555 hrs IST.

The temblor was 200 km northeast of Il'pyrskiy, Russia at a depth of roughly 12.6 km, the survey said on its Web site.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency, monitored by the BBC, said there were no reports of damage or casualties, acording to a seismic research team in the Kamchatka region.

The US Geological Survey estimated that some 2,000 people would have been exposed to ''intensive shaking,'' AB Wade, a spokeswoman said.

It was largest seismic event in the area since 1900, she said.

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